Mooney M22 accident near Vero Beach, Florida, July 23, 1989
On July 23, 1989 at about 12:08 pm local time, a Mooney M22, registered N7738M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (Vero Beach airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF AN OLD WELD REPAIR ON THE NOSE GEAR STRUT HOUSING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY OTHER (UNKNOWN) MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1989 · about 12:08 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Vero Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M22 · all M22s on the register
- Registration
- N7738M · no longer on the register · serial 70005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG THE LNDG ROLL, THE ACFT SWERVED INTO A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE NOSE GEAR REVEALED THE STRUT HOUSING HAD FAILED AT THE STEERING COLLAR, WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY WELDED. AN EXAM OF THE OLD WELD REVEALED THERE HAD BEEN INSUFFICIENT WELD PENETRATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,414 hours in all; 1,150 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,680 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-541-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 18S Douglas GA at 10:30 am
- Destination: VRB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:21 pm from VRB
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.