Mooney M20J accident near Odessa, Florida, February 10, 2000
On February 10, 2000, a Mooney M20J, registered N201RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odessa, Florida (Tampa Bay Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing. A factor was the utility pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2000
- Place
- Odessa, Florida · Tampa Bay Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201RC · registry record · serial 24-1371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot reported entering downwind, base and final approach to runway 26. The CFI of another airplane heard the radio transmissions and observed the airplane until a fire was seen on final. Examination of the accident disclosed that the airplane collided with a utility pole 35 feet above the ground and 1500 feet short of the runway. Examination of the airplane and engine found no preexisting abnormalities.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 92 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,082 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1999; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MLB Melbourne FL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 3FD1 Tampa Bay Execu FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,001 ft by 48 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from TPA, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.