Mite of the Month for March, 2004
N4159, serial number 325, was built in Mooney's Kerrville, Texas factory in 1955. Its new owner is Keith Mackey of Ocala, Florida.

The photo on the left was taken in 1965 at Cable Airport, Upland, California.
Above, Phil Harbaugh in the pilot's seat in the mid 1960's. Between 1966 and 1969, Phil flew the ship over 500 hours.

Keith acquired these three photos from previous owner, Phil Harbaugh, showing the Mite back when it was still flying.

In May of 1969, N4159 was grounded, at 830 hours TT, due to bad fabric. It was stored indoors in California with the engine run periodically until 1992 when it was moved to Arcanuma, Ohio.

Thanks to Keith's efforts, the Mite Site has a complete record of the airplane's history, as taken from the Aircraft log and Maintenance record, and Phil's personal log book. We are very pleased to have copies of this rare documentation.

Here are some excerpts:

  • N4159 came off the assembly line on April 20, 1955. The production test flight was done by chief test pilot, W.W. (Bill) Taylor and the certification by Charlie Dugosh two days later (see above). Title was then transferred from Mooney Aircraft to Stuart Shargel of Chicago, IL.
  • On April 25th, Allen Beyer ferried it to Chicago, a flight which took just over 12 hours air time. The new owner, Shargel, made his first flight on May 5th, 1955.
  • On November 17, 1956, the Mite was sold at 106 hrs. TT, probably to an aircraft dealer, and flown by Elliott Ray to Ft. Collins, CO.
  • On May 7, 1957 it was bought by Harold Little of Moses Lake, WA. He flew it home to Ephrata, WA in July via Sheridan, WY, Missoula, MT and Moses Lake, WA . The log shows that the Mite flew in and around Washington State until November, 1957.
  • The aircraft was sold in January, 1963 at 208 hrs. TT to James Habele of Montclair, CA who sold it in July, 1965 at 265 hrs. to Philip Harbaugh of Pasadena, CA who based the plane at Cable (Upland, CA).

Phil kept a detailed personal log book which outlines his 500+ hours spent in the Mite. He made many cross-country flights:

  • July 1st, 1966, (at 361.9 hrs.) he flew Cable - Palm Springs - Phoenix - Albuquerque - Guymon, OK - Mexico, MO - Frankfort, IN - Chagrin Falls, OH and returned the same route, arriving back at Cable on July 10th (408.6 hrs.).
  • July 1st 1967, Phil flew north via Sacramento - Roseburg, OR - Bellevue, WA and returned July 4th. (502 - 525 hrs.)
  • Later that month he flew east to Chagrin Falls, OH via Yucca Valley, CA - Phoenix - Albuquerque - Perryton, TX - Pratt, KS - Skyhaven (Warrensburg), MO - Taylorsville, KY - Lima, OH. He returned via Lafayette, IN - Mexico, MO - Emporia, KS - Guymon, OK - Las Vegas, NM - Coronado (Albuquerque), NM - Falcon (Phoenix) - Banning, CA - Cable by August 5th, making several side-trips along the way. (528 - 589 hrs.).
  • In October, 1967 and again in July, 1968 he flew to Ohio (620 - 671 hrs.), followed by another trip to Bellevue, WA. This is where, at 803 hrs., he made the traditional belly-landing!

We know of few other Mite pilots that have made so many long cross-country flights.

N4159 was stored in this partially heated garage in Arcanuma until February, 2004 when it was purchased by Keith Mackey and transported to Ocala, Florida for rebuild.

We understand that Mrs. Harbaugh was very pleased to have the Mite removed from the garage after twelve years!

The only things added to this Mite were a Turn & Bank and prop spinner, which Keith has. The original altimeter was replaced with a Sensitive Altimeter. Other than that, it is stock. The ship has a Continental A-65-8, but Keith got a -12 engine from Fred Schmidt which will enable him to install an electrical system.

A good friend of Keith's, Les King, picked the Mite up at Harbaugh's in his truck and brought it home to North Lawrence, Ohio, where it resided for a week before leaving for Ocala. Les drove the truck (which has been all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico carrying motorcars), down via Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC. to Ocala with his wife, Cindy, for a few days of vacation. The rig has a 28' main deck length. The Mite wing fit perfectly along with a tail cone for Walter Dix, N4057.

Keith says, "The ship is strictly original. Original fabric (which is now in shreds), original paint, instrument panel, interior and upholstery, paperwork all complete etc. Of course, it is the old story of the airplane found in a barn."

Here are the pictures of it in his shop after unloading. The aircraft was grounded due to bad fabric in 1969.

Inspection has revealed no rotten wood at all and only a few loose glue joints.

Keith has assisted the Mite Site greatly, sending us our first photos of this airplane, as well as copies of the logs and technical documents.

Rescuing this Mite from oblivion will require a lot of work, but from the enthusiasm and effort Keith as shown so far, we know he will make a success of the project.
In summary, here is the complete list of owners of N4159:

Stuart Shargel, Chicago, 1955 - 1956.
Harold Little, Moses Lake, WA, 1956 - 1964.
James Habele, Montclair, CA, 1964 - 1965.
Philip Harbaugh, Pasadena, CA, and Arcanuma, OH, 1965 - 2004.
Keith Mackey, Ocala, FL, 2004 -

As for the artist's watercolor (15" x 20") of N4159 displayed on our Front Page, all we know is that on the back there is a card which says, "Ron Lawless Old Car "Nut" & Artist San Gabriel Calif." Anyone out there know more about him?