# Accident 20170922019619A: Mooney M20E, Glendale, CA, September 22, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2017, 21:55 local time
- Place: Glendale, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1744° N, 118.2931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1744&lon=-118.2931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34BE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34BE-2020-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20E (registry code 5870212, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 387 total, 75 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA212) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170922019619A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM REDLANDS AIRPORT (KREI), REDLANDS, CA, FOR HOLLYWOOD BURBANK AIRPORT (KBUR), BURBANK, CA. UPON DESCENT AND APPROACH INTO KBUR, APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 MINUTES FROM KBUR, PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT BELIEVED THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER. PILOT STATED, BUT WAS UNCLEAR OF, THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF STEPS HE PERFORMED IN THE COCKPIT. PILOT STATED HE 'PITCHED FOR BEST GLIDE;' TURNED ON ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP; SWITCHED FUEL TANKS; AND TRIED DIFFERENT THROTTLE, MIXTURE, AND PROPELLER CONTROL POSITIONS WITH NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE.

PILOT MADE A 'MAYDAY' CALL TO THE KBUR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS OVER A DENSELY POPULATED AREA AND LOOKING FOR A POSSIBLE PLACE TO LAND. THE PILOT TURNED LEFT TO AVOID AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, THEN STALLED AND HIT THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING ON SOME TREE LIMBS, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN 180 DEGREES. THE SPIN CAUSED AFT FUSELAGE TO HIT A TREE, WHICH ABSORBED THE IMPACT, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST FACING NORTH IN THE DRIVEWAY OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 NM FROM KBUR.

UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP, WITH DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, AND THE AFT FUSELAGE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANK CAPS WERE REMOVED TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS, AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN EITHER 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 WPR17LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA212), Sep 23, 2017: Mooney M20E (N34BE), Glendale, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper decision to not refuel before the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

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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