# NTSB CEN11CA609: Mooney M20C, N5501Q, Allen, OK, August 30, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2011, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Allen, OK - Coordinates: 34.720554, -96.421386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7206&lon=-96.4214&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81655 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA609 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81655/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81655 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA609 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power in flight due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel management. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Workload management: task scheduling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064010/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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 M20C, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on a cross-country flight, the fuel in the left tank was exhausted and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore fuel to the engine by switching to the right tank, which contained fuel; however, realizing that he was too low to attempt an engine restart, he elected to perform a gear-up landing to a field. The airplane’s fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage during the landing. No other preimpact anomalies with the airplane were reported. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while on a cross-country flight, the fuel in the left tank was exhausted and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore fuel to the engine by switching to the right tank which contained fuel; however, realizing that he was too low to attempt an engine restart, he elected to perform a gear up landing to a field. The airplane’s fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage during the landing. No other preimpact anomalies with the airplane were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5501Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5501Q-2016-10-13), registration cancelled 2016-10-13, S/N 2939, built 1965 (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: 2939 - Airframe hours: 4447 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2011 - Departed: MO64, Kimberly City, MO - Destination: F30, Sulphur, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; last flight review February 13, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 40 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: ADH ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81655. 330 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354759&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.