# Accident 20191110020979A: Mooney M20J, Saint Augustine, FL, November 10, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 10, 2019, 09:17 local time
- Place: Saint Augustine, FL
- Airport: St Augustine
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9414° N, 81.3178° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9414&lon=-81.3178&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5765H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5765H-2021-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 9,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191110020979A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING N5765H, A MOONEY M20J, WAS THE RESULT OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  AT THE TIME THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHEN AIRCRAFT N5765H WAS BEGINNING THE TURN TO BASE FROM AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 31 AT ST. AUGUSTINE AIRPORT (KSGJ).  THE EXTENDED DOWNWIND WAS REQUESTED BY KSGJ ATCT FOR TRAFFIC SEPARATION.

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER, HE VERIFIED THE BOOST PUMP WAS ON AND FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE FULLEST TANK.  THERE WAS MINIMAL TIME TO TROUBLE SHOOT.

THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT A FORCED LANDING/DITCHING WAS IMMINENT AND FOCUSED ON GETTING THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY TO THE SURFACE.

THE PILOT STATED  HE NOTIFIED THE ATCT OF THE EMERGENCY, RETRACTED THE GEAR, SET UP A GLIDE WHEN HE COMMITTED TO THE FORCED LANDING.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THEN TURNED THE MAGNETOS OFF, THE BOOST PUMP OFF, BRIEFED THE PASSENGER,  AND OPENED THE DOOR IN PREPARATION FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE MARSH APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM RUNWAY 31 AT THE 7-8 O'CLOCK POSITION FACING APPROXIMATELY 300 DEGREES.

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE TAKEN TO SAFETY BY LOCAL BOATERS.  THE PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM.

THE AIRCRAFT SPENT 2 DAYS IN BRACKISH WATER.  AT TIMES IT WAS TOTALLY SUBMERGED BASED ON THE TIDES.

UPON AIRCRAFT RECOVERY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE FULLEST FUEL TANK AND THERE WAS FUEL IN THAT TANK (APPROX. 20 GAL).  IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE, PROP, AND MIXTURE CONTROLS WERE FULL FORWARD, THE BOOST PUMP WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND THE MAG SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION.  THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO RIGHT WING LEADING EDGED BUT NO EVIDENCE THAT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SOMETHING PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD MINOR DAMAGE UNDERNEATH.  THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED OBVIOUS WATER DAMAGE DUE TO THE TIME SPENT UNDER WATER.

## 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 ERA20LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA033), Nov 10, 2019: Mooney M20J (N5765H), St. Augustine, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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