# NTSB CEN11CA427: Mooney M20E, N55FE, Frankston, TX, June 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 29, 2011, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Frankston, TX - Coordinates: 32.081665, -95.451667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0817&lon=-95.4517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 80938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA427 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80938/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80938 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA427 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while en route the engine started to run rough and then lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane collided with a barbed-wired fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. A postaccident examination revealed that both fuel tanks were empty. The examination did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, while en route the engine started to run rough and then lost power. During the forced landing to a field, the airplane ran through a barbed-wired fence, damaging the landing gear. An examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. In addition, both fuel tanks were empty. An examination of the airframe, engine, and remaining systems revealed no mechanical anomalies or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55FE-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 619, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 619 - Airframe hours: 4180 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 2010 - Departed: T25, Frankston, TX - Destination: RFI, Henderson, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 16, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,708 total, 1,703 in this make and model, 4,420 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KTYR, 17 nm away ## 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 20110629013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110629013029A), Jun 29, 2011: Mooney M20E, Jacksonville, TX, Substantial damage. On June 29 2011 the dallas FSDO received a phone call of N55FE piloted by [privacy data omitted] crashing in a field 6 miles east of the town of frankston… ## Other investigations on N55FE (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 FTW81FRG61](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRG61), Aug 28, 1981: Mooney M20E (N55FE), San Antonio, TX, minor damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80938. 6.3 MB in all. - FAA Record of Telephone Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.