# NTSB MIA85FA101: Mooney M20D, N5588Q, Punta Gorda, FL, February 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1985, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Punta Gorda, FL
- Coordinates: 26.889984, -82.050361 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8900&lon=-82.0504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31229
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31229/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA101

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - fuel system,carburetor - leak (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,overhaul - improper (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 258
- Airframe hours: 2875
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 41; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850223004079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850223004079A), Feb 23, 1985: Mooney M20D, Punta Gorda, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Nose down ground impact without propeller rotation after takeoff. Improper aircraft maintenance in several areas.

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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