# Accident 20040203001509A: Mooney M20K, Immokalee, FL, February 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 3, 2004, 10:00 local time
- Place: Immokalee, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.4331° N, 81.4011° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4331&lon=-81.4011&mi=10
- Aircraft: N252WF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252WF-2021-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20K (registry code 5870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,588 total, 1,560 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA04LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA050) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040203001509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT, MR. GEORGE DARNELL STATED IN HIS STATEMENT, HIM AND HIS FRIEND MR. MANUEL IRAOLA, DEPARTED TAMIAMI AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 HOURS, ENROUTE TO PUNTA GORDA, CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO HAVE HIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE OIL CHANGE. AT APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY TO PUNTA GORDA AT 4500 FEET AGL, HE NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE MOTOR, NOTED FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS 15.7 GALLON PER HOUR, INSTEAD OF A NORMAL 12.5 GALLON PER HOUR. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS OF A PARTIAL PLUGGED FUEL INJECTOR HE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE MOTOR QUIT WITH NO ABRUPT OR PROP SEIZURE. HE IMMEDIATELY PLACED AIRCRAFT INTO PROPER GLIDE SPEED, 88 KIAS, DESCENDED APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET PER MINUTES AND LOOKED FOR A TERRAIN TO LAND. HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE THREE TIMES BUT HAD NO SUCCESS. HE TRIED TO LAND AT IMMOKALEE AIRPORT, BUT THEN QUICKLY REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A RECENTLY PLOWED POTATO FIELD. UPON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND, AIRCRAFT LANDING GEARS SEPARATED FROM FUSELAGE, LEFT WING INBOARD LEADING EDGE SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH DAMAGED SPAR. MR. DARNELL AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA04LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA050), Feb 3, 2004: Mooney M20K (N252WF), Immokalee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the airplane mechanic's improper maintenance/installation and failure to ensure that the B-nut on the inlet side of the fuel manifold was properly tightened, which…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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