Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Aripeka, Florida 33502
Friday, September 13, 1985 22:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ARIPEKA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33502
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2247 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 178
Weather Observation Facility ID PIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 16
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2212
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 14 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 56
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29650
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4797N
NTSB Number MIA85FA254
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20F
Aircraft Series Identifier M20F
Aircraft Serial Number 22-1408
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1543
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOSEPH G.CORR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1158
Operator City WINDERMERE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32786
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code X30
Departure City ORLANDO WEST
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --