# NTSB MIA88LA060: Mooney M20J, N4324H, St Theresa, FL, December 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1987, 09:29 local (15:29 UTC)
- Place: St Theresa, FL
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32108/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA060

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 3000 FT SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF ST. THERESA, FL OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, THE PLT REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT WAS THEN DITCHED APRX 11 NAUTICAL MILES & 146 DEGREES FROM ST. THERESA, FL, NEAR A FISHING VESSEL. THE PLT & PASSENGER THEN EVACUATED THE ACFT & WERE TRANSPORTED TO LAND. THE ACFT HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED THEREFORE NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE LOSS OF POWER REPORTED BY THE PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4324H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4324H-1991-07-01), registration cancelled 1991-07-01, S/N 240705 (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: 240705
- Airframe hours: 638
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pulfrey, Robert E.
- Registered owner: Pulfrey, Robert E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 1987, 33 hours before
- Departed: PGD, PUNTA GORDA, FL
- Destination: 71A, PINE HILL, AL
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,600 total, 650 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AAF, 41 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 19871211046439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871211046439A), Dec 11, 1987: Mooney M20J, Theresa, FL, Destroyed. Engine lost power. Ditched in Gulf and sank. Occupants rescued. Pilot beleived the single shaft on dual mags broke.

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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