CHI94LA058

The pilot had planned a flight from dallas, TX, to wheeling, IL, with an intended fuel stop in bloomington, IL. When reaching the st. louis, MO, area, the pilot requested to land at a nearby airport. A total loss of engine power was experienced when 2 miles from the airport. The airplane contacted trees and came to rest inverted. Post accident inspection revealed only a small amount of residual fuel on the airplane. The pilot reported knowing that the fuel quantity gauge for the right tank was unreliable and that the left tank gauge indicated over one half tank when the loss of power occurred.

On December 22, 1993, at 1927 central standard time (cst), a Mooney M-20E, N1249X, registered to Rudy E. Meyers of Duncanville, Texas, collided with trees during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The landing was made approximately 1 mile east of the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The flight originated from Redbird Airport, Dallas, Texas, on December 22, 1993, at 1528 cst.

The pilot stated he departed Dallas going to Wheeling, Illinois, with a planned fuel stop at Bloomington, Illinois. The airplane was topped off with 21 gallons of fuel just prior to departing Dallas. When reaching the St. Louis area at an altitude of 12,500 feet above mean sea level, the pilot attempted to contact the Columbia, Missouri, Flight Service Station. Because of poor communications, the pilot was instructed to contact the St. Louis TRACON. Upon doing so,the pilot requested to land at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. N1249X was subsequently cleared to land at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. When approximately 2 miles east of the airport, according to the pilot, a total loss of power was experienced. The airplane impacted trees and the terrain approximately 1 mile from the approach end of runway 26L.

The Spirit of St. Louis Airport Manager arrived a the accident site approximately 15 minutes after the accident. He reported the left fuel tank was separated from the airplane. He also reported, "No fuel was present, and no dirt around the tank showed signs of fuel penetration. No smell was evident in the tank, nor near the wreckage. No fuel was leaking from the right wing either through vents or through the fuel cap." He stated he found the fuel selector valve positioned on the left fuel tank.

Inspectors from the St. Louis Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration inspected N1249X on the morning of December 23, 1993. They confirmed the airport manager's findings of the night before. In addition, they reported that approximately 1 teaspoon of fuel was drained from the fuel line to the fuel pump and approximately 5 drops of fuel were drained from the line to the fuel flow divider.

The pilot stated the left tank fuel gauge indicated over one-half of tank of fuel when the engine quit, and that the right fuel gauge was not reliable as it indicated full fuel most of the time.