# NTSB CEN26LA144: Mooney M20, N1374W, Northlake, TX, March 18, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 18, 2026, 16:38 local (21:38 UTC) - Place: Northlake, TX · Field just to the north of the airport. - Coordinates: 33.059094, -97.230782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0591&lon=-97.2308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202687 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202687/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202687 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA144 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management 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 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) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (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) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: 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-cruise: 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) - [Enroute-cruise: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/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) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed from the airport for the short local area flight. Shortly after the pilot configured the airplane for cruise flight, the engine sustained a total loss of power. The pilot activated the electric boost pump, and he reached down to touch the fuel selector, located on the left side cockpit floor. He thought that the fuel selector was set to the right-wing fuel tank. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot elected to land at the departure airport. Due to the pilot prematurely extending the main landing gear, he performed a forced landing to a grass field located to the north of the departure airport. The right wing impacted trees, and the airplane came to rest upright on the grass field. Postaccident examination found the left-wing fuel tank was empty, the right-wing fuel tank had minimal fuel, and the fuel selector was found set to the left-wing fuel tank. There were no signs of fuel leakage at the accident site. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane flight manual preflight checks state “check fuel” and the airplane flight manual starting checks state “fuel valve on (right or left main).” The pilot admitted that he made an error, and he felt that, like most other general aviation accidents, it should never have happened. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1374W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1374W), registered now, S/N 2655, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20 (C) - 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: 2655 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 3703.5 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2026, 22 hours before - Departed: 52F, Northlake, TX - Destination: PVT, Springtown, TX - Airport: 52F, Aero Valley, runway 17/35, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 159 total, 38.7 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KAFW, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KAFW 182053Z 17015G20KT 10SM BKN250 22/06 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02220056 ## Other investigations on N1374W (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 MKC66F0275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66F0275), Oct 17, 1965: Mooney M20C (N1374W), Carbondale, KS, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202687. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20230201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA144%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20231338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of records (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20230811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Various%20MORs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mooney - M20C airplane flight manual and owner's manual excerpts (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20230634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mooney%20M20C%20-%20AFM%20and%20OM%20Excerpts-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.