# NTSB MIA87FA187: Mooney M20J, N5630K, Merritt Island, FL, June 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1987, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Merritt Island, FL
- Coordinates: 28.319482, -80.6809 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3195&lon=-80.6809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31766
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31766/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA187

## 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
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,cargo restraints - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT PERFORMED A HASTY PREFLT & AN ABBREVIATED RUN-UP BFR TAKING OFF. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT BGN A RGT TURN, THEN ROLLED RAPIDLY TO THE LEFT & CROSSED OVER THE EXTENDED RWY CENTERLINE TWD A LEFT DOWNWIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT ROLLED BACK TO THE RGT, THEN ENTERED A SPIN FM ABOUT 300' TO 500' & CRASHED IN SHALLOW WATER APRX 900' NORTH OF RWY 11. DRG AN EXAM, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. APRX 300 LBS OF PSNL BAGGAGE & COMPANY DEMONSTRATION MATERIAL & EQUIPMENT WERE FND STREWN ABOUT THE CABIN AREA, BUT NO CARGO RESTRAINTS WERE FND. DRG TOXICOLOGY TESTS, METABOLITES OF MARIJUANA WERE DETECTED IN THE PLT'S URINE, BUT A CHECK OF HIS BLOOD WAS NEGATIVE INDICATING NO RECENT USE OF DRUGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5630K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5630K-1991-03-13), registration cancelled 1991-03-13, S/N 241366 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 241366
- Airframe hours: 655
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: 3m Corp.
- Registered owner: 3 M Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 1987, 84 hours before
- Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Airport: COI, Merritt Island, runway 11, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,240 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TIX, 16 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 19870618020579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870618020579A), Jun 18, 1987: Mooney M20J, Merritt Island, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wings dipped on climbout, stalled and spun into water off end of runway. Toxicology report positive for marijuana.

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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