# NTSB NYC94LA049: Mooney M20J, N201TX, Jones Beach, NY, December 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1993, 21:24 local (Dec 15, 1993, 02:24 UTC) - Place: Jones Beach, NY - Coordinates: 40.660099, -73.489837 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6601&lon=-73.4898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38729/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA049 ## Probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in the airplane impacting with the water. Also casual in this accident was the pilot's total lack of experience in this type of aircraft, and operations. A factor in this accident was the lack of visual reference with the horizon as result of the dark night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GAIN A CLEARANCE FROM ATC FOR A TRANSITION FLIGHT THROUGH CLASS 'B' AIRSPACE AT 1000 FT. THE PILOT DECLINED THE CLEARANCE ATC GAVE HIM, AND ELECTED TO CANCEL HIS REQUEST AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT, AND THE WEATHER WAS MARGINAL VFR AT TIMES, AND A PILOT REPORTED FOG IN THE AREA. RADAR DATA DEPICTED AN AIRPLANE MANEUVERING IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LOCATION, OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AT 2123:56. PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARING FROM RADAR IT DESCENDED AND CLIMBED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VERTICAL VELOCITY DURING THE DESCENTS PEAKED AT 7000 FEET PER MINUTE (FPM), FOLLOWED BY A CLIMB OF ABOUT 5000 FPM, AND ANOTHER DESCENT OF 4000 FPM. THE SEARCH OF THE WATERS OFF THE SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND, NY, AND ALERT NOTICE (ALNOT), WERE CANCELLED ON 12/22/93. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT PIECES OF AIRCRAFT DEBRIS WASHED UP ON THE BEACH. ONE PIECE OF DEBRIS HAD 'N201TX' PAINTED ON IT. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT QUALIFIED FOR SOLO FLIGHT IN THIS TYPE AIRCRAFT; NIGHT FLYING; AND/OR THE CARRYING OF PASSENGERS AT ANYTIME. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 1993, at about 2124 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N201TX, piloted by Mr. Levente Huszinka, collided with the water, while maneuvering near Jones Beach, New York. The student pilot and the two passengers are missing and are presumed to have received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The airplane departed the Republic Airport, Farmingdale, New York on a local flight. The student pilot was not qualified for solo flight in this type aircraft; night flying; and/or the carrying of passengers at anytime. According to FAA Inspector, Leslie Talkington's written report to the NTSB: ...from 0207 UTC [2107 local], until 0226 UTC [2126 local] time...N201TX depart[ed] southwest of Republic Airport...an attempt was made [by the pilot] to gain clearance from Kennedy Tower [JFK Airport] for a transition flight through class "B" airspace at 1000 FT. Upon being offered a clearance at 500 Ft, the pilot...declined, elected to cancel his request and fly back to Republic. The last radio communications with N201TX was at approximately 2122. Mr. Talkington wrote: ...the weather, although reportedly VFR at the time, was "misty", and marginal at times, diminishing from 2500 Ft. scattered to an estimated 1500 Ft broken and 15 miles visibility during the flight. As reported by Eagle 4935 [Commuter Airline] to Kennedy Tower...we see a little fog rolling in off the bay area... The last radar data depicting the airplane's route of flight revealed that an airplane had departed to the north of Farmingdale Airport, Farmingdale, New York, then turned to the left and traveled south for about 9 nautical miles. The airplane turned to the southwest at 2122:03, and commenced to maneuver in approximately the same location. The airplane disappeared from radar at 2123:56. During the final 1.5 minutes of recorded radar the airplane which had been at 1500 feet, descended to 900 feet, then climbed to 1700 feet, and descended to 1400 feet. The vertical velocity during the descents peaked at 7000 feet per minute (FPM), followed by a climb of about of 5000 FPM, and another descent of 4000 FPM. The search by the Civil Air Patrol, the US Coast Guard and the US Air Force, along with the alert notice (ALNOT), was cancelled on December 22, 1993, after rescue efforts were negative. For several weeks after the accident pieces of aircraft debris washed up on the beach. One piece of debris had "N201TX" painted on it. All the pieces of debris were gathered by local police, and then released the airplane owner's insurance company, represented by Mrs. Debbie Jo Tennis, Memphis, Tennessee. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201TX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201TX-2015-03-12), registration cancelled 2015-03-12, S/N 24-0151, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0151 - Airframe hours: 2224 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Levente Huiszinka - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 1992, 245 hours before - Departed: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; student; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 9 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FRG, 18 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 19931214052269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931214052269A), Dec 14, 1993: Mooney M20J, Jones Beach, NY, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control on night local flight. Fog rolling in from ocean. Disentregated on impact. Only pieces wreckage found. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.