# Accident 19990306035069A: Mooney M20G, Naples, FL, March 6, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 6, 1999, 12:10 local time
- Place: Naples, FL
- Airport: Naples Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.0309° N, 81.7599° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0309&lon=-81.7599&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3588X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3588X-2001-11-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M-20G (registry code 5870216, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-20g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20G
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 284 total, 1 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990306035069A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE FLIGHT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A TOUCH-AND-GO ON RUNWAY 14, AND ON CLIMB OUT WAS ASSIGNED A RIGHT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN. ON CROSSWIND THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE PILOT SAID, `...I PITCHED DOWN AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, ON EITHER TANK USING BOTH THE STARTER AND WINDMILLING.' HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING TO A GOLF COURSE, BUT DECIDED ON A ROAD, BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THE GOLF COURSE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE ROAD GEAR UP, HEADING SOUTHBOUND, SKIDDED FORWARD, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK TWO MAILBOXES. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED FORWARD STRIKING A TREE, AND SEPARATING A PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE `OFF' POSITION. ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK. THE LEFT FUEL SYSTEM OPERATED WITHOUT DISCREPANCIES, AND FUEL FLOWED FROM THE TANK. NO BROKEN FUEL LINES WERE FOUND, AND THE ENGINE DISPLAYED NO DISCREPANCIES. THE AIRPLANE FLEW 1.7 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT ON        MARCH 6, 1999. THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST REFUELED ON FEBRUARY 11, 1999. THE FAA INSPECTOR WROTE IN HIS REPORT, `...SUBSEQUENT FUEL CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE BEEN EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL.' IN ADDITION THE PILOT SAID, `...THAT WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED...THAT HE HAD BEEN FLYING ON THE RIGHT TANK FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE TRIED TO SELECT THE LEFT FUEL TANK BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE MAY HAVE SELECTED THE `OFF' POSITION INADVERTENTLY.' (-23)MIA99LA100

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA99LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA100), Mar 6, 1999: Mooney 20G (N3588X), Naples, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper procedure by not placing the fuel selector on the tank with the most fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a off airport forced landing. Contributing factors in this…

## Other reports on N3588X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19970603021929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970603021929I), Jun 3, 1997: Mooney M20G (N3588X), South St Paul, MN, Minor damage. Narrative: pilot had been practicing commercial procedures and at one point extended the gear. Flight continued with gear down. Aircraft then returned to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.