Mooney M-20J accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, March 15, 1988
On March 15, 1988 at about 2:00 am local time, a Mooney M-20J, registered N4781H, was destroyed in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach airport). It was a business 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
- March 15, 1988 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20J · all M-20Js on the register
- Registration
- N4781H · no longer on the register · serial 24-0872
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT FLEW A FLIGHT THAT CONSUMED ABOUT 31 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM A 31 GALLON TANK. THE OTHER FUEL TANK STILL HAD 31 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE ENGINE FAILED ON BASE LEG AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. THE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK AS REQUIRED BY THE BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST.
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: 706 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1987; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPT Gulfport MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 am from JAX, 21 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.