20070303006209A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mooney M20D · Visalia, CA · March 3, 2007

Date: March 3, 2007 · 07:45 local
Place: Visalia, CA
Phase of flight: Forced Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6628U
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX07CA098
Reported as: Mooney M20D
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,083 total650 in this make and model3 in the last 90 days

N6628URegistration cancelled Apr 13, 2017 · Mooney M20DS/N 123 · Built 1963 Airframe modelMooney M20D Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot reported he did not visually check the fuel quantity during the preflight inspection, but stated that he had topped the tanks about a month before and had only flown approx. one hour out of the right tank. The pilot believes that the trip was flown on the left tank, but is not sure. He also does not remember switching tanks during the flight. On approx. a three (3) mile final for runway 12 @ vis, the pilot reported that the engine "sputtered." He switched tanks with the boost pump on, the engine "caught", then "sputtered" again. He then switched tanks "back and forth 2 to 3 more times." The aircraft made an off airport landing short of runway 12 @ vis in a clear site that was prepared for industrial building construction. The landing was completed successfully but during landing roll the a/c was damaged when it struck a dirt berm that was being prepared for a road.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT REPORTED HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, BUT STATED THAT HE HAD TOPPED THE TANKS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE AND HAD ONLY FLOWN APPROX. ONE HOUR OUT OF THE RIGHT TANK. THE PILOT BELIEVES THAT THE TRIP WAS FLOWN ON THE LEFT TANK, BUT IS NOT SURE. HE ALSO DOES NOT REMEMBER SWITCHING TANKS DURING THE FLIGHT. ON APPROX. A THREE (3) MILE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 12 @ VIS, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE "SPUTTERED." HE SWITCHED TANKS WITH THE BOOST PUMP ON, THE ENGINE "CAUGHT", THEN "SPUTTERED" AGAIN. HE THEN SWITCHED TANKS "BACK AND FORTH 2 TO 3 MORE TIMES." THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING SHORT OF RUNWAY 12 @ VIS IN A CLEAR SITE THAT WAS PREPARED FOR INDUSTRIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. THE LANDING WAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY BUT DURING LANDING ROLL THE A/C WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A DIRT BERM THAT WAS BEING PREPARED FOR A ROAD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX07CA098Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportVisalia, CAThe pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel system management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.Mar 3, 2007 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6628U · 1

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

Incident 19880319020839ILevel Off Touchdown · Greenwood, INForgot to extend the landing gear. Landed gear up.Mar 19, 1988 · Minor damage