# NTSB MIA90LA040: Mooney M20, N6879N, Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1989, 16:52 local (21:52 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Location: 26.1223° N, 80.1434° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Lauderdale, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1223&lon=-80.1434&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32607/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA040

## Probable cause

PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## 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 - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING AN OVERWATER FLIGHT, HE NOTED A PARTIAL LOSS OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND ENGINE POWER. HE INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED AT SEA AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE PILOT WAS RESCUED BY THE US COAST GUARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6879N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6879N-1993-06-07), registration cancelled 1993-06-07, S/N 680154 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680154
- Airframe hours: 1510
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Seven Eagles, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 1989, 18 hours before
- Departed: MYGF, FREEPRT,BAHAMAS, OF
- Destination: FLL, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 30 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 19891224065439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891224065439A), Dec 24, 1989: Mooney M20C, Fort Lauderdale, Destroyed. Engine lost power over ocean. Pilot ditched aircraft and was rescued.

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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