# NTSB MIA86LA021: Mooney M20C, N79386, Starke, FL, October 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 1985, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Starke, FL
- Coordinates: 29.940195, -82.109535 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9402&lon=-82.1095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA021

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- On ground/water collision with object, other
  - object - tree(s) (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 15 FT AGL THE ENG SPUTTERED AND LOST PWR MOMENTARILY. FULL PWR WAS REGAINED BUT THE ACFT HAD LOST ALTITUDE AND COULD NOT CLIMB TO CLEAR TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT THEN VEERED LEFT, MUSHED TO THE GROUND AND CONTACTED TREES. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT HAD SAT OUTSIDE IN HEAVY RAIN FOR A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79386](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79386-2017-10-26), registration cancelled 2017-10-26, S/N 2927, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2927
- Airframe hours: 3512
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aeronautical Electronics
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1985, 374 hours before
- Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: runway 9, 2,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,263 total, 2,018 in this make and model, 2,181 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 25 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 19851028076399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851028076399A), Oct 28, 1985: Mooney M20C, Starke, FL, Substantial damage. Took off on wet runway. Engine sputtered. Regained power. Aborted takeoff,drifted off runway side and struck trees.

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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