# Accident 20030712018799A: Mooney M20C, Homer, OH, July 12, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2003, 20:30 local time
- Place: Homer, OH
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2442° N, 82.5514° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2442&lon=-82.5514&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33WL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33WL-2005-08-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 350 total, 160 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03CA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03CA156) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030712018799A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT FLEW A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM KNOX COUNTY (4I3), TO DARBY DAN AIRPORT (616), TO THE PUT IN BAY AIRPORT (3W2) ON JULY 12, 2003. HE DEPARTED AT 08:30 AM WITH AN ESTIMATED 32 GAL OF FUEL, 20 GAL IN THE LEFT WING AND 12 GAL IN THE RIGHT WING. HE INDICATED IN HIS STATEMENT THAT IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 27 GAL TO MAKE THE FLIGHT AT HIS PLANNED POWER SETTING OF 21" MAP. HE STATED THAT HE FLEW THE TRIP USING 23" MAP. HE ALSO STATES HE MISREAD HOW MUCH FUEL HE HAD REMAINING PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE PUT IN BAY AIRPORT FOR HIS RETURN FLIGHT. AFTER DROPPING OFF HIS PASSENGER AT THE DARBY DAN AIRPORT ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, HE TOOK OFF ON HIS 65 NM LEG TO KNOW COUNTY AIRPORT TO THE NORTHEAST. HE STATES HE DID NOT CHECK HIS FUEL PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FROM DARBY DAN. HE WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE DELAWARE COUNTY AIRPORT WHEN HE NOTICED THE FUEL PRESSURE GAGE WAS INDICATING 0 LBS, HE THEN TURNED ON HIS FUEL PUMP AND SWITCHED TANKS THINKING HE HAD 4 GALS. AVAILABLE. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED FUEL STARVATION APPROXIMATELY 6 NM FROM THE INTENDED AIRPORT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD SOUTH OF THE KNOX COUNTY AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 NYC03CA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03CA156), Jul 13, 2003: Mooney M20C (N33WL), Utica, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain.

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.

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