- Date
- February 23, 1985, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5588QMooney M20D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850223004079A
- Case key
- 31229
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Flt departed on runway 9 and a witness reported seeing the aircraft shortly after this with its engine losing power and the pilot attempting to return to the airport, this witness then lost sight of the aircraft. The aircraft crashed one quarter mile from the intersection of runways 21 and 27 in a 20 to 25 degree nose down attitude at a relatively slow speed. Post crash inspection of the aircraft revealed a post crash fire had destroyed the engine accessory section, cockpit instrument panel, and cabin section of the aircraft. Inspection of the propeller revealed no evidence of rotation at the time of the accident. Post crash inspection of the engine revealed no evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction however the carburetor was found not to have a gasket installed between the top and bottom sections and a fire had occurred within the carburetor fuel bowl.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5588Q
- Reported as
- Mooney M20D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 258
- Airframe hours
- 2,875
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert P. Riggs
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 29, 1984 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- PGD
- Destination
- X31 · Crystal River, FL
- Airport
- PGD · Charlotte County, runway 9, 4,950 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 390 total · 120 in this make and model · 270 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 18 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FMY, 21 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.