Mooney M20E accident near Sarasota, Florida, December 26, 2007
On December 26, 2007 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N5875Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota/Bradenton Intl 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
A loss of engine power due to contamination in the fuel filter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2007 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Sarasota/Bradenton Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N5875Q · no longer on the register · serial 802
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the pilot climbed to about 300 feet, raised the landing gear and flaps, turned to a heading of 360 degrees, then turned off the fuel pump and verified that the fuel pressure was in the green arc. After 2 seconds the engine ran roughly. He turned the fuel pump back on and leveled the airplane at 400 to 500 feet. He declared an emergency, lowered the landing gear and, with the engine continuing to surge/barely run, he turned the airplane, banking about 50 to 60 degrees in an attempt to make runway 14. The airplane stalled and collided with the ground. Examination of the engine found a large amount of granular debris clogging the fuel servo filter.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,891 hours in all; 1,081 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,350.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2007; 51.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 5:50 pm
- Destination: BKV Brooksville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 9,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft; a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from SRQ
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.