Mooney M20C and amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE mid-air collision near St Augustine, Florida, April 16, 1996
On April 16, 1996 at about 11:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mooney M20C (N9206V) and amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE (N83BL), were involved in a mid-air collision near St Augustine, Florida (St Augustine airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid each other's airplane. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of traffic pattern position reports from the Christian Eagle, due to the reported failure of its VHF radio for undetermined reasons.
inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid each other's airplane. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of traffic pattern position reports from the Christian Eagle, due to the reported failure of its VHF radio for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1996 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- St Augustine, Florida · St Augustine · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9206V · registry record · serial 690045
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE CHRISTEN E
- Registration
- N83BL · no longer on the register · serial 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mooney M20C final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of a Mooney M20C, N9206V, and a homebuilt (Lemoine) Christian Eagle, N83BL, entered a left traffic pattern to land on runway 31 at an uncontrolled airport. While on final approach at an altitude of about 100 to 150 feet AGL, the two airplanes collided. Both airplanes continued the approach and landed without further damage. Investigation revealed that the pilot of the Mooney entered the traffic pattern for runway 31 from an upwind leg, then he announced his position with radio calls on all legs of the traffic pattern. The Christian Eagle pilot said that after completing a touch-and-go on runway 31, he remained in a standard left pattern. He stated that he had been listening to other aircraft and reporting his position in the pattern, but on downwind after the touch-and-go, his 'radio started to break up on transmission.' He stated that he turned base and final calling his position; however, neither the UNICOM operator nor pilots of other airplanes heard the Christian Eagle pilot announce his landing intentions.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of a Mooney M20C, N9206V, and a homebuilt (Lemoine) Christian Eagle, N83BL, entered a left traffic pattern to land on runway 31 at an uncontrolled airport. While on final approach at an altitude of about 100 to 150 feet AGL, the two airplanes collided. Both airplanes continued the approach and landed without further damage. Investigation revealed that the pilot of the Mooney entered the traffic pattern for runway 31 from an upwind leg, then he announced his position with radio calls on all legs of the traffic pattern. The Christian Eagle pilot said that after completing a touch-and-go on runway 31, he remained in a standard left pattern. He stated that he had been listening to other aircraft and reporting his position in the pattern, but on downwind after the touch-and-go, his 'radio started to break up on transmission.' He stated that he turned base and final calling his position; however, neither the UNICOM operator nor pilots of other airplanes heard the Christian Eagle pilot announce his landing intentions.
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 for the Mooney M20C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 521 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1995; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Fort Pierce FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SGJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,939 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from SGJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,124 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,060 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 504 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1996; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGJ at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,939 ft by 150 ft
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.