# NTSB DEN03LA006: Mooney M20B, N74530, Loa, UT, October 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2002, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Loa, UT - Coordinates: 38.65139, -111.651664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6514&lon=-111.6517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55948/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA006 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent placement of the fuel selector position in the off position. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise - fuel tank selector position - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel system,selector/valve - switched off (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high terrain - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) ## Analysis The pilot said that the engine "just quit," and he suspected it was fuel related. He said he had moved his seat aft to retrieve something off the back seat. A recovery crew noted that the fuel shut-off valve, located under the pilot's seat, was between the "right" and "off" positions. The right wing tank was empty, as it had been ripped open by a rock, and approximately 10 to 11 gallons of fuel was drained out of the unbreached left wing tank. The pilot said he had recently purchased the airplane and had logged 21 hours of flight time, 19 of which he had logged in the 90 days prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2002, approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20B, N74530, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted rocks during a forced landing near Loa, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Day 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 at 0745 mountain daylight time at Wayne Wonderland Airport, Loa, Utah, and was en route to Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, Utah. The pilot said that the engine "just quit," and he suspected it was fuel related. He said he had moved his seat aft to retrieve something off the back seat. A recovery crew noted that the fuel shut-off valve, located under the pilot's seat, was between the "right" and "off" positions. The right wing tank was empty, as it had been ripped open by a rock, and approximately 10 to 11 gallons of fuel was drained out of the unbreached left wing tank. The airplane sustained damage to the right wing aileron and front spar, and the ribs in both wings. The nose gear was folded aft, and the nose gear box was damaged. The pilot said he had recently purchased the airplane and had logged 21 hours of flight time, 19 of which he had logged in the 90 days prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74530](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74530-2006-03-10), registration cancelled 2006-03-10, S/N 1841, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20B - Registry model: [Mooney M20B](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20b) (registry code 5870206) (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: 1841 - Airframe hours: 3180 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-AID 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard J. Holmes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, August 22, 2002, 33 hours before - Departed: 38U, Loa, UT - Destination: PVU, Provo, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 8, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 454 total, 21 in this make and model, 424 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KBCE, 61 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 20021014028699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021014028699A), Oct 14, 2002: Mooney M20B, Rexburg, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that after a 15-minute flight the engine abruptly quit, with no warning indication. Aircraft was approximately at 12,000 feet and… 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.