# NTSB MIA72AM032: Mooney M20A, N8309E, Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), October 2, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 2, 1971
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) · GULF OF MEXICO, GM
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA72AM032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2296   71/10/2   GULF OF MEXICO      MOONEY M20A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1125                    N8309E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 44, 10600 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST HELENA,ARK             WAUCHULA,FLA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- PLT LOST,DECLARED OUT OF FUEL.DITCHED 47 MI FROM PENSACOLA,FLA.BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.142 GMS PCT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8309E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8309E-1972-06-21), registration cancelled 1972-06-21, S/N 1487 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20A
- Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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

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