Mooney M20P N7799M Makes Water Landing Off Honeymoon Island After Engine Trouble

ADS-B data reviewed by SkyMeter shows N7799M, a Mooney M20P registered to Paul J. Mazzillo, departed St. Pete-Clearwater area's Albert Whitted Airport (KSPG) at 15:36 UTC on July 12, 2026. The aircraft climbed out heading south toward MacDill Air Force Base before executing a series of right turns, cycling through westerly, northwesterly, northeasterly, and southeasterly headings, all while remaining below 1,011 feet MSL throughout the entire flight.

The track shows the aircraft made at least two low approaches and touch-and-go or low-pass sequences in the early portion of the flight, reaching as low as 56 feet before climbing away again. After those maneuvers, the aircraft spent roughly 35 minutes maneuvering at low altitude over the Tampa Bay area, generally tracking northwest and then north toward the Dunedin and Honeymoon Island coastline. The track ends at 16:33 UTC at 443 feet MSL on a heading of 165 degrees, with a descent rate steepening to 960 feet per minute in the final seconds of the recording, consistent with a rapid descent toward the water surface. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Mooney experienced engine trouble and came down in the water approximately 25 yards off Honeymoon Island State Park near Dunedin; both the father and son aboard exited the aircraft and walked to shore without injury.

The full flight track of N7799M can be replayed on SkyMeter.