Mooney M20C accident near Marathon, Florida, October 10, 2009
On October 10, 2009 at about 1:20 am local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N2558Y, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Marathon, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2009 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Marathon, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2558Y · no longer on the register · serial 3267
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight the pilot experienced an increase in engine noise before the engine suddenly lost power. While the fuel status and tank indications were normal, he attempted to restart the engine three separate times without success. The pilot reported to air traffic control that the engine had failed and that he would be conducting an emergency landing into the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot and passengers were able to egress the airplane and held onto a crab pot buoy. The occupants of the airplane were rescued by the United States Coast Guard the next morning. After impact, the airplane sank and was not located.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Ditching during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Contributed to outcome
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 358 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 940 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,721 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VDF Tampa FL at 11:53 pm
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.