# NTSB CEN13CA134: Mooney M20C, N6242U, Moriarty, NM, January 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 10, 2013, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Moriarty, NM - Coordinates: 34.982223, -106.004997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9822&lon=-106.0050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86021/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86021 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA134 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation. ## 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 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) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=5870208), [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. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute: 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) - [Emergency descent: 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 Before the accident flight, the pilot purchased 30 gallons of aviation gasoline, following which the fuel gauges indicated near half for each tank. During the accident flight, the pilot flew about 12 minutes south of the departure airport with the left fuel tank selected then turned north to return to the airport. About 5 minutes after turning north, the engine went to idle power. The pilot turned the carburetor heat on and activated the boost pump, and the engine returned to normal cruise power. The pilot indicated that, at this point, she should have switched the fuel selector valve to the right fuel tank but did not. The engine operated at cruise power for about 1 minute then quit completely. The pilot reported that because the airplane was about 1,500 feet above ground level and changing the fuel selector valve requires moving the pilot seat back about 18 inches “with no control of the aircraft,” she decided to perform a forced landing on a farm road directly ahead. During the landing, the right wing struck a fence post, and the airplane subsequently came to rest in a plowed field. Both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the accident was caused by fuel starvation and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot purchased 30 gallons of aviation gasoline (AVGAS) prior to a local flight. The purchased AVGAS was divided between the left and right fuel tanks. The fuel tanks showed a little over one-half on the right and a little less than one-half on the left. The pilot flew about two tenths of an hour south and then turned north back to the airport. About five minutes after turning north, the engine went to idle. The pilot pulled the carb heat on, activated the boost pump, and the engine returned to normal cruise power. The pilot indicated, "At this point I should have switch to the right tank." The engine ran about one minute then quit completely. The airplane was about 1,500 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that "the changing of the fuel select valve requires the pilot to move the seat back about 18 in[ches] with no control of the aircraft, I thought a controlled forced landing better than an uncontrolled one." The pilot reported that the accident was caused by fuel starvation and that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6242U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6242U-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 2081, built 1962 (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: 2081 - Airframe hours: 5500 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 17, 2012 - Departed: 0E0, Moriarty, NM - Destination: Moriarty, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,357 total, 2,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: 0E0, 13 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 20130110000199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130110000199A), Jan 10, 2013: Mooney M20C, Moriarty, NM, Substantial damage. On January 10, 2013, at 12:30 MST, a Mooney M20C struck a fence while making a forced landing on a private road due to fuel exhaustion 12 miles south of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86021. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385817&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.