# NTSB BFO87LA054: Mooney M20C, N6801U, Baltimore, MD, August 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1987, 18:07 local (22:07 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Coordinates: 39.169956, -76.670509 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1700&lon=-76.6705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87LA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11332/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87LA054

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - approach light/navaid (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REFUELED THE ACFT AT PRINCETON, NJ, BFR DEPARTING ON A FLT TO LINDEN, NJ, THEN CONTINUED ON TO LAUREL, MD. HE BELIEVED THAT HE HAD POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RGT FUEL TANK & SAID THAT HE HAD USED FUEL OUT OF THE SAME TANK UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT LAUREL. AT LAUREL, THE PLT POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK, WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FULL. HE THEN DEPARTED ON A RETURN FLT TO PRINCETON. AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 6000', THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT DIVERTED TO THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON ARPT, BUT DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO RESTART THE ENG. HE ARRIVED OVER THE ARPT AT A RELATIVELY HIGH ALT & ELECTED TO CIRCLE TWICE TO DSCND. HOWEVER, HE LOST TOO MUCH ALT & DRG THE FINAL APCH, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT APCH LIGHTS ABOUT 200' SHORT OF THE RWY. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE EMPTY TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY DRG AN OPNL CHECK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6801U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6801U), registered now, S/N 2516, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2516
- Airframe hours: 1700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Raymond Rothschild
- Registered owner: Raymond Rothschild
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1987
- Departed: W18, LAUREL, MD
- Destination: 39N, PRINCETON, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWI, Baltimore-Washington, runway 28, 9,452 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,650 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 1,275 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870813044589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870813044589A), Aug 13, 1987: Mooney M20C, Baltimore, MD, Substantial damage. Power loss during climb. Wing hit approach lights turning final. Rolled onto the runway. Selector on empty tank.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.