# NTSB CHI94LA180: Mooney M20E, N6942U, Omaha, NE, May 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 1994, 02:17 local (07:17 UTC) - Place: Omaha, NE - Coordinates: 41.239147, -95.930191 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2391&lon=-95.9302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9549/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA180 ## Probable cause inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and the inadequate fuel supply for the flight. Factors related to the accident were the ditch and the quantity gage which gave a false indication. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT BEGAN THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT USING THE LEFT FUEL TANK. HE THEN SELECTED THE RIGHT TANK UNTIL IT RAN DRY AT WHICH TIME HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT TANK. AFTER BEING CLEARED TO DESCEND TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A DITCH. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 1/2 CUP OF FUEL REMAINED ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT FUEL TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR SHOWED 30 POUNDS OF FUEL REMAINING. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 1994, at 0217 central daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N6942U, registered to Peter O. Coltman, and piloted by a commercial instrument pilot collided with rough terrain during a forced landing along side a highway in Omaha, Nebraska, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Austin, Texas, at 2145 central daylight time, on May 26, 1994. The pilot stated he started the flight on the left fuel tank then switched to the right. He ran the right tank dry then switched back to the left for the remainder of the flight. N6942U was cleared to descent to the Omaha Epply Airport and the pilot was told to report the airport in sight. The pilot stated that the engine quit during the descent. A forced landing was made in a field near the intersection of I-370 and W60 in Omaha. During the landing the airplane contacted a two foot wide ditch which was two to three feet deep. Post accident inspection of the airplane by an Inspector from the Lincoln, Nebraska Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed 1/2 cup of fuel remained in the left fuel tank and the right fuel tank was empty. The left fuel tank quantity indicator was indicating 30 pounds of fuel remained in that tank. The pilot was given an NTSB 6120.1/2 Form by the FAA Inspector who inspected the airplane. This form was not received by the NTSB. A second form was mailed certified to the pilot. The pilot stated during a telephone conversation with the NTSB that mailed the original form and that he would mail a copy of the form. Neither form has been received by the NTSB as of the date of this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6942U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6942U-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N 312, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 312 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peter O. Coltman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AUSTIN, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; flight hours: 874 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OMA ## 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 19940527012639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940527012639A), May 27, 1994: Mooney M20E, Omaha, NE, Substantial damage. Lost power on approach to airport. Struck ditch landing in field. Fuel tanks were empty. 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.