# NTSB MIA83FA093: Mooney M20J, N1166U, Tampa, FL, March 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1983, 06:20 local (11:20 UTC)
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Location: 27.9755° N, 82.5332° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TAMPA INTL (TPA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9755&lon=-82.5332&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83FA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30770/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83FA093

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - autopilot - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING AN INSTRUMENT TAKEOFF IN IMC. THE SKY WAS OBSCURED & VISIBILITY ZERO. AFTER LIFT-OFF THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE PLT STATED HE AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION BY ADVANCING DOWN TRIM WHICH WAS HIS ROUTINE TO ESTABLISH A 5 DEG CLIMB PITCH. HE FURTHER AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION BY ENGAGING THE AUTOPILOT. ON 'HDG' MODE THE AUTOPILOT HOLDS THE ACTIVE TRIM WHICH WAS STILL DOWN. THE PLT ALSO THOUGHT HE SET THE HSI BUG TO THE RWY HEADING OF 360 DEG. AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE FOUND THE 'HDG' BUG ON 330 DEG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1166U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1166U-2002-06-25), registration cancelled 2002-06-25, S/N 24-1297, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1297
- Airframe hours: 319
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Malcolm P. Lawrence, doing business as Benton Veneer Co.
- Registered owner: Benton Veneer Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 1983, 67 hours before
- Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Destination: MONTGOMERY, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TPA, Tampa Intl, runway 36R, 8,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,692 total, 1,462 in this make and model, 1,579 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830320008679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830320008679A), Mar 20, 1983: Mooney M20J, Tampa, FL, Destroyed. Lost control on zero visibility takeoff. Turned 30 degrees off runway heading and flew into the ground.

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.

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