# Accident 20200323003129A: Maule MT-7-235, Atlantic Ocean, NC, March 23, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2020, 21:50 local time
- Place: Atlantic Ocean, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4169° N, 77.0342° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4169&lon=-77.0342&mi=10
- Aircraft: N899ZZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N899ZZ-2021-10-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule MT-7-235 (registry code 5460175, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mt-7-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 (registry code 41660, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-w1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE MT-7-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-W1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 179 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA134) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200323003129A

## Narrative

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

N899ZZ DEPARTED KLRO MOUNT PLEASANT REGIONAL AIRPORT IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 23:50 ZULU ON MARCH 23, 2020, INBOUND TO KMRH MICHAEL J SMITH FIELD AIRPORT IN BEAUFORT NC.  N899ZZ WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN CRUISING AT 5000 FEET MSL (MEAN SEA LEVEL).  THE FLIGHT PATH PARALLELED THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA JUST OFF SHORE WHICH APPEARED TO BE A DIRECT FLIGHT TO THE DESTINATION.  FROM THE RADAR PLOT AND ADS-B INFORMATION THAT WAS OBTAINED FROM WILMINGTON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, AT APPROXIMATELY 01:02:24 ZULU, N899ZZ STARTED A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN.  AT 01:03:31 ZULU, RADAR AND ADS-B DATA WAS LOST.  THE COAST GUARD SEARCHED FOR N899ZZ AND FOUND DEBRIS IN THE OCEAN NEAR THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED OFF OF RADAR.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FLOOR BY PRIVATELY HIRED DIVERS.  THE AIRCRAFT AT THIS TIME HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.

## 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 ERA20LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA134), Mar 24, 2020: Maule MT-7 (N899ZZ), Swansboro, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The airplane’s turning descent into water while enroute in night instrument meteorological conditions for reasons that could not be determined.

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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