Mooney M20J accident near Sarasota, Florida, November 24, 1985
On November 24, 1985 at about 9:31 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201QN, was destroyed in an accident near Sarasota, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- November 24, 1985 · about 9:31 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201QN · no longer on the register · serial 24-0350
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A TOUCH AND GO LANDING THE AIRCRAFTS ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT COMPLETELY. AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A RIGHT BANK NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFTS ENGINE REVEALED THE ENGINES FUEL SYSTEM TO BE COMPLETLY FILLED WITH WATER. ADDITIONALLY IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD SAT FOR THREE MONTHES PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT WITH APPR0XMATELY HALF FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL SUMP DRAINS IN THE AIRCRAFTS WINGS WERE FOUND RUSTED CLOSED AFTER THE 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 24,600 hours in all; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 790 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 61X Sarasota FL at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from SRQ, 16 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.