Accident Overview
On October 9, 2009, at approximately 2120 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C (registration N2558Y) ditched in the Gulf of Mexico following a loss of engine power. The certificated private pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries from the impact. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) in Tampa, Florida, at about 2045 EDT, with a destination of The Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) in Marathon, Florida. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight and Rescue
The pilot was receiving VFR flight following from Air Traffic Control. Around 2115, approximately 43 miles northwest of MTH, the pilot radioed the FAA Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center, reporting a loss of engine power and that he was ditching in the Gulf of Mexico. On October 10, 2009, at 0930, the United States Coast Guard rescued the pilot and two passengers from a crab pot buoy. The occupants sustained minor injuries from the impact.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had just engaged the fuel pump prior to the engine failure, as he planned to descend into MTH. The engine suddenly quit with a subtle instant increase of engine noise and then quiet. He checked the fuel status and tank, which were OK, and attempted to start the engine three times without success.
The pilot told an FAA inspector that he had filled the fuel tanks prior to departing MTH; however, the receipt from the self-service fuel pump was likely in the airplane when it sank. A review of self-service fuel records at MTH on October 9, 2009, at 1750, showed the pilot purchased 17.36 gallons of fuel on his personal credit card. The pilot reported to the NTSB that he had 35 gallons of fuel on board when departing VDF. According to the fixed-base operator line manager at VDF, the airplane and pilot landed at the airport, and his two passengers, who had been waiting, entered the airplane while the engine was still running. The airplane then taxied out and departed without receiving fuel at VDF.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent third-class medical was issued on May 28, 2008. He had 1,000 hours of total flight experience, including 358 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. His most recent flight review was on June 10, 2008, in the same make and model.
According to maintenance records, the engine had undergone a major overhaul on October 13, 2006, and was installed in the airplane on November 7, 2006. On September 18, 2009, the airplane, engine, and propeller had undergone an annual inspection. At that time, the airframe total time was 5,721.49 hours, and the engine had 68.02 hours since major overhaul.
Weather and Operations
The recorded weather observation at MTH at 2053 included winds from 110 degrees at 7 knots, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet and 2,900 feet above ground level, temperature 29 degrees Celsius, dew point 23 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.
At the time of this writing, the airplane wreckage had not been located.