# NTSB CEN21LA423: Mooney M20J, N823SP, Howell, MI, September 16, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 16, 2021, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Howell, MI · Corn field - Coordinates: 42.638481, -84.068627 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6385&lon=-84.0686&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 103893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103893/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103893 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA423 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane’s fuel quantity, which resulted in a total loss of engine power 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before takeoff, the pilot estimated that 19 gallons of fuel remained in the airplane based on approximate flight time and fuel burn since the last refueling. His displays read 30 gallons remaining. He departed on a 20 nautical mile flight and shortly after takeoff the engine began to run rough. The engine stopped running rough and the pilot scanned the engine instruments which displayed normal readings. The pilot continued to his destination but had second thoughts and decided to return to his home field. While in cruise flight at 4,500 ft mean sea level, the engine quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings during the forced landing. A postaccident examination determined there was no fuel in the right tank and 6.5 gallons in the left tank. When electrical power was applied to the airplane, the right tank display indicated ½ full. The fuel quantity of the airplane was last calibrated in 2006 when it was modified with a dual bladder system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N823SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N823SP), registered now, S/N 24-0003, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0003 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Continental IO-360-A3B6D 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: S & P Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KOZW, Howell, MI - Destination: KPTK, Pontiac, MI - Airport: n/a - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 185 total, 48 in this make and model, 151 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KOZW, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KOZW 161955Z AUTO 16005KT 10SM SCT050 25/12 A3013 RMK AO2 T02490123= ## 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 20210916015819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210916015819A), Sep 16, 2021: Mooney M20J, Fowlerville, MI, Substantial damage. In level cruise at 4500MSL while leaning mixture the engine lost all power and would not restart. PIC made emergency landing in cornfield and the nose landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103893. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 840 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13246225&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Scanned%20from%20a%20Xerox%20Multifunction%20Printer_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12998753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%202-Rel.pdf - Shadin document (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13244573&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Digiflo_-Rel.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.