Mooney M20F accident near Aripeka, Florida, September 14, 1985
On September 14, 1985 at about 2:45 am local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N4797N, was destroyed in an accident near Aripeka, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 14, 1985 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Aripeka, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4797N · no longer on the register · serial 22-1408
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT AFTER DINNER, WHICH INCLUDED A SMALL AMOUNT OF WINE, HE WENT TO THE ARPT TO CLEAN HIS ACFT, THEN ELECTED TO GO FOR A SHORT FLT. HE INTENDED TO STAY WITHIN 25 MI OF THE ARPT, BUT FOUND HIMSELF OVER LAKELAND.HE LANDED AT A STRIP TO CALL, BUT THERE WAS NO TELEPHONE, SO HE TOOK OFF AGAIN. WHILE RETURNING, THE PLT DIVERTED TOWARD THE WEST TO AVOID A STORM. SUBSEQUENTLY, DARKNESS OCCURRED & THE STUDENT BECAME LOST & DISORIENTED. HE SAW A HIGHWAY & FLEW ALONG IT WHILE TRYING TO IDENTIFY A FAMILIAR LANDMARK. EVENTUALLY, THE PLT FLEW OUT OVER THE EDGE OF THE GULF OF MEXICO & INADVERTENTLY DESCENDED INTO THE WATER. AFTER COMING TO REST, HE CRAWLED OUT OF THE ACFT & FELL INTO THE WATER, BUT GOT BACK ONTO THE WING OF THE ACFT. HE REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS WAITING TO BE RESCUED, HE RINSED SALT WATER & GASOLINE FROM HIS MOUTH & DRANK FROM A BOTTLE OF GINGER ALE. A BOTTLE OF WINE WAS FND IN THE ACFT. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.07 GM% (0.07%) & A TRACE OF DIAZEPAM.
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: student
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,543 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X30 Orlando West FL at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 am from PIE, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.