# NTSB CHI88FAMS2: Mooney M20K, N56352, Racine, WI, August 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1988, 15:41 local (20:41 UTC)
- Place: Racine, WI
- Coordinates: 42.74921, -87.809333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7492&lon=-87.8093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13978
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FAMS2
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13978/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FAMS2

## Probable cause

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - aircraft preflight - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED ASPEN, COLORADO AT HIS ESTIMATED TIME OF 1000 CDT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED FULL FUEL SERVICE AT ASPEN, BUT DID NOT PERFORM A VISUAL CHECK DURING PREFLIGHT. FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED AT 13,500 FEET MSL. APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 33 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT THE PILOT ADVISED KANKAKEE AFSS THAT HE WAS OVER LAKE MICHIGAN AND 'LOW ON FUEL.' THE AIRCRAFT DITCHED AT APPROXIMATELY 1541 CDT. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE RETRIEVED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES AFTER DITCHING. THE AIRCRAFT HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56352](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56352-2002-07-11), registration cancelled 2002-07-11, S/N 25-0743 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 250743
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne Christenson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1988
- Departed: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Destination: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 980 in this make and model, 1,045 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKE, 24 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 19880801031859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880801031859A), Aug 1, 1988: Mooney M20K, Racine, WI, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel mid lake. Unable to return to shore, ditched in lake. Did not ascertain fuel put onboard.

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.

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