Mooney M20C accident near Freeport, Bs, March 24, 2008
On March 24, 2008 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N2943L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeport. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2008 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Bahamas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2943L · no longer on the register · serial 670077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 24, 2008, at about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N2943L, registered to and operated by a private individual as a 14 Code of federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, experienced an in-flight break up off the shore of Grand Bahamas, Bahamas. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from the Grand Bahama International Airport (MYGF), Freeport, Grand Bahamas at 1319. According to the Freeport Approach Control personnel, the pilot departed from MYGF at 1319 enroute to the Port St Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. The pilot was not in radio communication with the Freeport approach control personnel after his departure, and they did not receive any "MAYDAY" transmissions. Approximately 8 miles west of Grand Bahama Island, a fisherman reported "a loud noise was heard which he thought was thunder and upon looking up, saw what appeared to be an airplane engine falling from the sky. The engine blew up upon hitting the water." Additionally, "several other pieces of what was thought to be an aircraft wing and other pieces of debris fell from the sky." At that point, he maneuvered his boat in the direction of the downed airplane but found only floating debris. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Flight Standards Inspectorate Civil Aviation Department P.O. Box AP 59244 Nassau International Airport Phone: (242) 377-3457 Facsimile: (242) 377-6060 This report is for information purposes only and contains only information obtained for or released by the Bahamian Government.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYGF Freeport at 5:45 pm
- Destination: FPR Fort Pierce FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway NA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from MYGF, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.