20110510009619A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20R · Ravenna, OH · May 10, 2011

Date: May 10, 2011 · 17:45 local
Place: Ravenna, OH
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N9149R
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11FA340
Reported as: Mooney M20R
Reported engine: Continental IO-550 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,044 total225 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N9149RRegistration cancelled May 4, 2015 · Mooney M20RS/N 29-0004 · Built 1994 Airframe modelMooney M20R Engine modelContinental IO-550 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.

Aircraft departed akron fulton airport (akr) at approx. 1530 LCL, may 10, 2011. Pilot leveled aircraft at 3,200 MSL. Within minutes of level-off, the engine stopped running. The pilot was unable to restart the engine. On final approach to an open field, the aircraft struck a tree. The airplane crashed in the open field of intended landing. Post-crash investigation reveals that the aircraft's left wing fuel tank had approx. 30 - 40 gallons of fuel after the crash. The right wing was severed from the aircraft with no evidence of fuel spillage. Inspection of the engine reveals no problems. The aircraft was run using the fuel from the left wing. The aircraft engine ran and idled without issue. Amended 05/11/2012: corrected total airframe hours (actual hours are 2050.4).

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AKRON FULTON AIRPORT (AKR) AT APPROX. 1530 LCL, MAY 10, 2011. PILOT LEVELED AIRCRAFT AT 3,200 MSL. WITHIN MINUTES OF LEVEL-OFF, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE.ON FINAL APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN THE OPEN FIELD OF INTENDED LANDING.POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING FUEL TANK HAD APPROX. 30 - 40 GALLONS OF FUEL AFTER THE CRASH. THE RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE.INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALS NO PROBLEMS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RUN USING THE FUEL FROM THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE RAN AND IDLED WITHOUT ISSUE. AMENDED 05/11/2012: CORRECTED TOTAL AIRFRAME HOURS (ACTUAL HOURS ARE 2050.4).

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 CEN11FA340Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportRavenna, OHThe pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.May 10, 2011 · Substantial damage