Mooney M20J accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2003
On February 3, 2003 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N658FT, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power as a result of the separation of the magneto assembly due to inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 2003 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N658FT · registry record · serial 24-3270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a concrete levee following a loss of engine power after takeoff. According to the pilot, the flight departed and approximately 5 minutes later he heard a "loud bang," and the engine lost total power. He initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane contacted trees and a 10-foot high concrete levee. Examination of the wreckage revealed the single-drive magneto was separated from its accessory drive. In addition, the housing attachment bold threads did not indicate damage consistent with properly torqued and secured attaching hardware.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 593 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 487 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from NEW, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N658FT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.