# NTSB DEN00LA144: Mooney M20E, N6927U, Albuquerque, NM, August 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2000, 09:26 local (15:26 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA144 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure the refuel the airplane. Factors were the road signs. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot made a forced landing on a street and during the landing roll, the airplane struck road signs, damaging both wings. The pilot told FAA inspectors that he had departed Albuquerque International Sunport with half-full fuel tanks, and had flown to Santa Fe and Los Alamos, New Mexico. From there, he flew to Double Eagle II Airport. He did not purchase fuel at either airport. When the inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site, they found the left tank was 'bone dry' and only 'residual' fuel could be detected in the right tank. The airplane has a fuel capacity of 52 gallons. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2000, at 0926 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N6927U, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with road signs during a forced landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Albuquerque about 0920. According to the pilot's accident report, he departed Albuquerque's Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), and was en route to Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). "Three minutes into [the] flight, [the] engine just quit," he wrote. He switched the fuel selector from the left to the right tank, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, and fully enriched the fuel mixture. The engine did not start. The pilot made a forced landing on a street. During the landing roll, the airplane struck road signs, damaging the outboard 3 feet of both wings. The pilot said the main spar was undamaged, but FAA inspectors reported damaged stringers, ribs, and skin. FAA inspectors also said the pilot told them he had departed Albuquerque International Sunport with half-full fuel tanks, and had flown to Santa Fe and Los Alamos, New Mexico. From there, he flew to Double Eagle II Airport. He did not purchase fuel at either airport. He departed Double Eagle II Airport and was en route to Albuquerque International Sunport when the engine lost power. When the inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site, they found the left tank was "bone dry" and only "residual" fuek could be detected in the right tank. The airplane has a fuel capacity of 52 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6927U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6927U), registered now, S/N 297 (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: 297 - Airframe hours: 5506 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kevin R. Mckown/Don Mickey - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1999 - Departed: AEG, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,288 total, 450 in this make and model, 2,238 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ ## 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 20000803024779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000803024779A), Aug 3, 2000: Mooney M20E, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. (.4)The engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot made a forced landing on a street and during the landing roll, the airplane struck road signs,… ## Other investigations on N6927U (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 DEN66D0046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0046-201549), Jun 18, 1965: Mooney M-20E (N6927U), Slater, CO, substantial damage 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.