Panama City International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Panama City, Florida 32405
Thursday, November 1, 2007 14:06 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident airplane had not flown for an undetermined period of time, and the pilot was planning to conduct a 30-minute local flight. The pilot's mechanic attempted to prepare the airplane for the flight, and while prepping the airplane he drained water from both fuel tanks for approximately 45 minutes. He started the engine and let it run for 15 minutes. During that time the pilot arrived at the airport, and the mechanic suggested to the pilot that he allow him to fully drain the fuel tanks prior to his flight. The pilot refused and he and the passenger boarded the airplane. The flight departed, and shortly after the pilot reported a loss of engine power and ditched in the Gulf of Mexico. Examination of the airplane revealed water contamination of the fuel. Review of the pilot's toxicology report revealed the use of controlled substances. Post mortem toxicology testing performed on the pilot was consistent with the regular use and very recent smoking of cocaine, likely within 1 hour of the accident. The pilot’s medical certificate was expired at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel contamination. A factor was the pilot's impairment due to recent cocaine use.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1406
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Panama City
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32405
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301233N
Event Location Longitude 0855315W
Event Location Airport Panama City International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PFN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 13
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID KPFN
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24351
NTSB Notification Source Panama City Fire Dept.
NTSB Notification Date Nov 1 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2008 6:40PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO-09

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4091H
NTSB Number MIA08FA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0468
Certified Max Gross Weight 2370
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1264.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Treasure Realty Incorporated
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Panama City
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32408
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Robert M Gans
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Panama City
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32408
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PFN
Departure City Panama City
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1348
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PFN
Destination City Panama City
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2008 2:44PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --