On November 30, 1993, a Mooney M20E (registration N9241V) operated by North Florida Flight Center was involved in an aviation accident near Jacksonville, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY FROM A STALL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane that had not been operated since refueling two days prior was observed maneuvering before entering a nose-down attitude and crashing. Toxicology tests detected therapeutic levels of medications that could cause drowsiness.
Accident Sequence
Witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering in the area. Two witnesses reported that the airplane entered a nose-down attitude and crashed. Impact occurred in a nose-down, left wing low attitude. The airplane had not been operated since it was refueled two days before the accident.
Post-Impact Examination
Both fuel tanks were ruptured during impact, preventing determination of the amount of fuel on board. An odor of fuel was noted at the accident site, and residual fuel remained in the fuel lines. Examination of the engine and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.
Toxicology Results
Toxicology tests of the pilot's blood showed 0.022 micrograms per milliliter of chlorpheniramine and 0.469 micrograms per milliliter of phenylpropanolamine. According to an FAA toxicologist, these levels were within a therapeutic range and could have resulted in drowsiness.