Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marathon, Florida 33050
Friday, October 9, 2009 21:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight the pilot experienced an increase in engine noise before the engine suddenly lost power. While the fuel status and tank indications were normal, he attempted to restart the engine three separate times without success. The pilot reported to air traffic control that the engine had failed and that he would be conducting an emergency landing into the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot and passengers were able to egress the airplane and held onto a crab pot buoy. The occupants of the airplane were rescued by the United States Coast Guard the next morning. After impact, the airplane sank and was not located.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2120
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Marathon
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33050
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 250600N
Event Location Longitude 0811103W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 5
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27835
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2010 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2558Y
NTSB Number ERA10LA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3267
Certified Max Gross Weight 2575
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 Sep 18 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5721
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name JAKE AVIATION CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810-4902
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Peter Jakobson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Marathon
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33050
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 VDF
Departure City Tampa
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1953
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MTH
Destination City Marathon
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2010 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --