NTSB Factual Report

On December 14, 1993, at about 2124 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N201TX, piloted by Mr. Levente Huszinka, collided with the water, while maneuvering near Jones Beach, New York. The student pilot and the two passengers are missing and are presumed to have received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The airplane departed the Republic Airport, Farmingdale, New York on a local flight. The student pilot was not qualified for solo flight in this type aircraft; night flying; and/or the carrying of passengers at anytime.

According to FAA Inspector, Leslie Talkington's written report to the NTSB:

...from 0207 UTC [2107 local], until 0226 UTC [2126 local] time...N201TX depart[ed] southwest of Republic Airport...an attempt was made [by the pilot] to gain clearance from Kennedy Tower [JFK Airport] for a transition flight through class "B" airspace at 1000 FT. Upon being offered a clearance at 500 Ft, the pilot...declined, elected to cancel his request and fly back to Republic.

The last radio communications with N201TX was at approximately 2122. Mr. Talkington wrote:

...the weather, although reportedly VFR at the time, was "misty", and marginal at times, diminishing from 2500 Ft. scattered to an estimated 1500 Ft broken and 15 miles visibility during the flight. As reported by Eagle 4935 [Commuter Airline] to Kennedy Tower...we see a little fog rolling in off the bay area...

The last radar data depicting the airplane's route of flight revealed that an airplane had departed to the north of Farmingdale Airport, Farmingdale, New York, then turned to the left and traveled south for about 9 nautical miles. The airplane turned to the southwest at 2122:03, and commenced to maneuver in approximately the same location. The airplane disappeared from radar at 2123:56.

During the final 1.5 minutes of recorded radar the airplane which had been at 1500 feet, descended to 900 feet, then climbed to 1700 feet, and descended to 1400 feet. The vertical velocity during the descents peaked at 7000 feet per minute (FPM), followed by a climb of about of 5000 FPM, and another descent of 4000 FPM.

The search by the Civil Air Patrol, the US Coast Guard and the US Air Force, along with the alert notice (ALNOT), was cancelled on December 22, 1993, after rescue efforts were negative. For several weeks after the accident pieces of aircraft debris washed up on the beach. One piece of debris had "N201TX" painted on it.

All the pieces of debris were gathered by local police, and then released the airplane owner's insurance company, represented by Mrs. Debbie Jo Tennis, Memphis, Tennessee.

NTSB Probable Cause

was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in the airplane impacting with the water. Also casual in this accident was the pilot's total lack of experience in this type of aircraft, and operations. A factor in this accident was the lack of visual reference with the horizon as result of the dark night.