# Accident 20160421005159A: Mooney M20C, Sand Springs, OK, April 21, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2016, 11:45 local time
- Place: Sand Springs, OK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1867° N, 96.1500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1867&lon=-96.1500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6870N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6870N-2018-06-19) (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: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 437 total, 297 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160421005159A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS MAKING FIRST FLIGHT AFTER HAVING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED ON THE AIRCRAFT.  AFTER PERFORMING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF.  SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS TO LOW TO RETURN TO THE AIRFIELD AND THE PILOT CONTINUED FORWARD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREE'S NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN THE WOODS APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE NORTH OF THE SAND SPRING POUGE AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, ELEVATORS, VERTICAL STABILISER AND THE FUSELAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT.  NO POST FLIGHT FIRE OCCURRED.  THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURES.  IN THIS POSITION THE PILOT WAS STUCK IN THE AIRCRAFT AND EMERGENCY RESCUE CREWS HAD TO CUT OPEN THE FUSELAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BEHIND THE DOOR IN ORDER TO GET THE PILOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT.  NO FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHEN INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WHILE PUNCTURED ON THE UNDERSIDE (PORTION IN THE AIR) HAD AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT FUEL REMAINING WHEN CHECKED AT THE SCENE.  THE LEFT TANK WAS UN PUNCTURED AND NO FUEL WAS OBSERVED WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL CAP.  NO ENGINE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED AT THE SCENE OTHER THAN TO THE PROPELLER WHICH EXHIBITED NO SIGNS OF LEADING EDGE DAMAGE.  PRESSURE TEST OF LEFT FUEL TANK REVEALED NO LEAKAGE.  FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AT THE SCENE WAS SELECTED ON THE LEFT TANK.  POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR OF FUEL EXHAUSTION OF THE LEFT TANK.

## 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 CEN16LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA164), Apr 21, 2016: Mooney M20C (N6870N), Sand Springs, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

## Other reports on N6870N (1)

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

- [Incident 19980422034119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980422034119I), Apr 22, 1998: Mooney M20C (N6870N), Millbrook, NY, Minor damage. Pilot landed with gear up, wx not a factor, a/c not a factor.

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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