# Incident 20180630024429I: Mooney M-18C, Bartow, FL, June 30, 2018

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 30, 2018, 14:00 local time
- Place: Bartow, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8964° N, 81.8431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bartow, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8964&lon=-81.8431&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4070, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4070) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M-18C (registry code 5870102, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-18c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-18C
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180630024429I

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WANTED TO FLY FROM 28J PALATKA, FL TO ZPH ZEPHYRHILLS, FL IN HIS NEWLY PURCHASED AIRPLANE. HE CALLED THE ZPH AIRPORT FOR A CURRENT WEATHER CONDITION AND HE SAID THEY SAID IT WAS CLEAR SKIES. THE WEATHER IN PALATKA, WAS BROKEN CLOUDS SO HE DECIDED TO TAKE-OFF AND FLY TO ZEPHYRHILLS.  HE FILLED THE MAIN TANK WITH 11 GALLONS OF FUEL AND HE ELECTED TO LEAVE THE LANDING GEAR DOWN SINCE IT WAS A NEW AIRPLANE TO HIM AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO COMPLICATE ANYTHING. ENROUTE THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE ZEPHRYHILLS AIRPORT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING ATTEMPTING TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. THE PILOT STATED HE COULD NOT SEE HIS IPAD HE WAS USING FOR NAVIGATION DUE TO THE GLARE FROM THE CANOPY. HE DEAD RECKONED THE BEST HE COULD BUT COULD NOT FIND AN AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT RAN  OUT OF FUEL NEAR THE BARTOW AIRPORT AND LANDED IN A PASTURE. THE NOSE GEAR BENT BACKWARDS AND ONE PROPELLER BLADE HIT THE GROUND AND BENT. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT.

## Other reports on N4070 (1)

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

- [Incident 20240504006569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240504006569I), May 4, 2024: Mooney M-18C (N4070), Mill Creek, IN, Minor damage. On may 04th, 2024 at approximately 1605 CDT a Mooney M18C aircraft operated by a commercial pilot received minor damage when forced to conduct an off-field…

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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