Mooney M20K accident near Racine, Wisconsin, August 1, 1988
On August 1, 1988 at about 8:41 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N56352, was destroyed in an accident near Racine, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1988 · about 8:41 pm local time
- Place
- Racine, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N56352 · registry record · serial 250743
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED ASPEN, COLORADO AT HIS ESTIMATED TIME OF 1000 CDT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED FULL FUEL SERVICE AT ASPEN, BUT DID NOT PERFORM A VISUAL CHECK DURING PREFLIGHT. FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED AT 13,500 FEET MSL. APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 33 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT THE PILOT ADVISED KANKAKEE AFSS THAT HE WAS OVER LAKE MICHIGAN AND 'LOW ON FUEL.' THE AIRCRAFT DITCHED AT APPROXIMATELY 1541 CDT. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE RETRIEVED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES AFTER DITCHING. THE AIRCRAFT HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.
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: 1,050 hours in all; 980 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,045 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASE Aspen CO at 3:00 pm
- Destination: GRR Grand Rapids MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:57 pm from MKE, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.