Mooney M20C accident near Southeast Arcadia, Florida, January 1, 2022
On January 1, 2022 at about 5:11 pm local time, a 1965 Mooney M20C, registered N79396, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Southeast Arcadia, Florida (Arcadia Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 2022 · about 5:11 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Southeast Arcadia, Florida · Arcadia Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C, built 1965 · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N79396 · no longer on the register · serial 2932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was making a personal flight and that he would buy fuel after arriving at the destination airport. While on final approach to land, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot stated that the fuel gauge showed about 4 gallons of fuel in the right tank (the fuel selector was set to the right-wing tank) and that the fuel boost pump was turned on. The pilot stated that the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and that he performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident engine test runs found that the engine performed normally through all power settings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that the carburetor heat temperature gauge indicated 60°F. The pilot reported that he had flown about 4 hours since last refueling the airplane and that the airplane had 19 gallons of fuel for the flight. According to these numbers, the airplane would have burned about 8.0 to 8.5 gallons of fuel per hour. As such, the airplane would have had enough fuel to complete the 76.5-nautical mile flight. Because the airplane had sufficient fuel to complete the flight and no mechanical issues were identified that would have precluded normal operation, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence for this accident.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Loss of engine power (total) during landing defining event
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 860.2 hours in all; 560.6 in this make and model; 26.9 in the last 90 days; 14.1 in the last 30 days; 813.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 26, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,086 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 3,086 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X05 Brooksville FL at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 12:10 pm from KPGD, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPGD 011710Z AUTO 19010KT 10SM SCT034 SCT047 27/20 A3007 RMK T02700200 MADISHF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane where it came to rest amongst orange trees.
Photo 2 – View of the right side of the airplane.
Photo 3 – View of the left side of the fuselage and left wing.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Engine Run | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpt from Mooney Manual | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N79396: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Mooney M-20 6,245 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mooney 5,394 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D 1,057 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Arcadia Municipal · nearest airport
- Pilot Country Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 989 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,712 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA22LA099.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.