Has this ever happened to you

[bonal]

I went to flight aware to review my flight yesterday and entered my tail number and my two flights came up but there was a third flight that had the same number and was listed as a Mooney but with an unknown owner.  The flight was a couple weeks ago in Illinois the profile showed a cruise speed of around 190  at 7500.  Seems very strange any one had this happen to them.

Edited October 17, 2025 by bonal
Wrong state

[rklems]

This happens from time to time when a controller fat fingers the tail number when someone gets flight following (and manufacturers often get the N numbers in similar blocks, so a simple typo can often be a similar model). If you look at the track log for the flight, what does it say for the reporting facility? It'll say something like FAA Facility when it's coming from the FAA feed vs FlightAware ADS-B when it's coming from the feeder network. If it shows from FlightAware ADS-B then that's typically an installer mistake (either mis-entering the N number, or forgetting to reset the value when a piece of used equipment is sold and installed elsewhere)

[midlifeflyer]

I once looked up a Comanche I used to fly by tail number and found an ADS-B track for a Cessna 152.  No, the registration number had not been reassigned. 

[Jackk]

With how unprotected un thought out the ADSB system is, it’s more common than you think 

 

 could be someone just decided hey didn’t want their wife to see the flight, could be a avionics shop didn’t enter the hex on a new install correctly, etc etc 

 

 and as stated could be ATC messed up 

Edited October 13, 2025 by Jackk

[bonal]

Thanks, I’ll check the reporting facility.  It’s never happened before so makes sense that it was just a typo and not a miss registration.  190 knots wish it was me.

[DCarlton]

I had someone ask me why I was in Florida once.  I told them I was in CA.  They told me Flightaware showed me being in FL.  I checked and it did.    

[bonal]

Checked and reporting facility was Kansas City center.  So likely an entry error.  But searching further discovered that there is an m20e same year as our d that shares the same serial number in the FAA registration records I understand that pre 1966 serial number assigned were not as specific ie year and model related and were just sequential.  This raises a question about whether I need to take action with the FAA I know the data plate on our D is consistent with the registration on file.  Looking at the pictures of the E it’s a nice looking plane and has a different tail number.

[201er]

On 10/13/2025 at 11:34 AM, bonal said:

I went to flight aware to review my flight yesterday and entered my tail number and my two flights came up but there was a third flight that had the same number and was listed as a Mooney but with an unknown owner.

[bonal]

Not helpful but very funny 

[Bartman]

A few years ago I saw that I had apparently I flown to Europe or something like that, but I don’t remember it. 

[Echo]

I was in Indy 10/3 and was cooking pretty good, but 180mph NOT knots...lol.

[76Srat]

On 10/16/2025 at 1:16 PM, bonal said:

Checked and reporting facility was Kansas City center.  So likely an entry error.  But searching further discovered that there is an m20e same year as our d that shares the same serial number in the FAA registration records I understand that pre 1966 serial number assigned were not as specific ie year and model related and were just sequential.  This raises a question about whether I need to take action with the FAA I know the data plate on our D is consistent with the registration on file.  Looking at the pictures of the E it’s a nice looking plane and has a different tail number.

Hi, Bonal.  I wouldn't get too worked up over your aircraft having the same serial number of a Mooney with a different model type.  In spite of the assumption of what a serial number actually is, very few aircraft within the same mfg are actually "serialised" in the sense that we normally think of it.  Airbus is one of the worst:  they've produced hundreds of aircraft with the same exact serial numbers, just in different models and types.  It merely requires a bit of a deeper dive when doing ownership or maintenance research.  Think of it as a similar or same address, but not the same house nor location.  There are lots of "100 Main Street" addresses (I assume), but none are the same exact location.

The primary issue that would require immediate correction is if there were another M20D with your same exact serial number.  Since the one you reference is an M20E, you're good to go without any further attention from the friendly (currently unpaid) folks at your local FSDO and/or the Civil Registry.

 

 

[LANCECASPER]

8 hours ago, 76Srat said:

Hi, Bonal.  I wouldn't get too worked up over your aircraft having the same serial number of a Mooney with a different model type.  In spite of the assumption of what a serial number actually is, very few aircraft within the same mfg are actually "serialised" in the sense that we normally think of it.  Airbus is one of the worst:  they've produced hundreds of aircraft with the same exact serial numbers, just in different models and types.  It merely requires a bit of a deeper dive when doing ownership or maintenance research.  Think of it as a similar or same address, but not the same house nor location.  There are lots of "100 Main Street" addresses (I assume), but none are the same exact location.

The primary issue that would require immediate correction is if there were another M20D with your same exact serial number.  Since the one you reference is an M20E, you're good to go without any further attention from the friendly (currently unpaid) folks at your local FSDO and/or the Civil Registry.

 

I think he was talking about N-number not serial number.

[Flyler]

A friend sent me a false ADS-B track of a Cessna 152 at something like 24,000ft and 400kts. I figured maybe it was using the new swift 100 fuel.

[bonal]

On 10/31/2025 at 6:10 PM, LANCECASPER said:

I think he was talking about N-number not serial number.

Actually it was both, first a matching N number then the discovery of a matching serial number.  I have put the issue into the nothing to see here category.

[76Srat]

There should definitely not be an identical registration number on more than one aircraft at a time.  For one aircraft to have a current N number that was once (formerly) on a different plane is not unusual.  For there to be two "currently registered" aircraft bearing the same exact N number is wrong and clearly a violation of the FARs.  PM me with the N number and I'll run a quick check just to make sure--happy to help solve this potential problem, which needs immediate attention if there are multiple aircraft displaying or, worse, bearing the same N number in the Registry records.

If, however, this was a typo by some avionics shop that somehow entered incorrect ADS-B data into some reporting database that now shows up in flight records, then that is to be handled locally by FSDO or whatever shop might have transposed certain info when certifying the relevant boxes, etc.  Either way, if its still showing up as a duplicate, it should be corrected asap.  My original reply about not being overly concerned about a duplicate serial number still stands--that's no bid deal.  If it involves the same N number as a different aircraft, then probe a bit further to make sure it isn't somehow related to your onboard reporting data within the ADS-B system.

 

 

[bonal]

THX, 76srat  looking at the FAA registry I show only my Mooney with my N number and if I do a serial number search there are dozens of different types including my D and the E that we discovered plus an m18 so based on that I think it’s a non issue.

[Jackk]

I’m pretty sure the hex is resolved into N number not SN for ^ that reason as well as others 

 

 

[Pinecone]

With ADSB the N number is transmitted by the transponder.  You can change the N number sent to a call sign, like a Compassion or Fore Flight.  In fact you need to do that if using a call sign. If some one is changing back and forth between call sign and N number, they can make a mistake

Without ADSB the transponder sends the 4 digit code and the altitude.  The ATC computer resolves the 4 digit code to an N number.   WHen the controller enters the N number for that code, you can get an error.