# NTSB DEN07CA070: Mooney M20K, N5737M, Ingalls, KS, February 10, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 9, 2007, 22:30 local (Feb 10, 2007, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Ingalls, KS
- Coordinates: 37.749176, -100.010002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7492&lon=-100.0100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65437/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA070

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making, and failure to refuel while en route, resulting in loss of engine power during cruise due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the poor weather at the pilot's destination.

## 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
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was diverting to another airport, after attempting an instrument approach at his original destination. The pilot reported that, " the engine started to sputter again, then quit. I was out of fuel." The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was diverting to Dodge City, Kansas (DDC), after attempting an instrument approach to the Garden City Airport. The pilot reported that, "half way to DDC the engine started to sputter again, then quit. I was out of fuel." The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, both landing gear separated and the step on the right side was bent aft. The bulkhead on the bottom right side of the fuselage was bent. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5737M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5737M), registered now, S/N 25-0781, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0781
- Airframe hours: 2412
- Engines: Continental TSIO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007
- Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Destination: GCK, GARDEN CITY, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DDC, Dodge City Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 837 total, 697 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night
- Wind: 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KDDC, 6 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 20070209003569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070209003569A), Feb 9, 2007: Mooney M20K, Ingalls, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 9, 2007, the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed from san diego, CA montgomery field (kmyf) at 3:15 pm PST in N5737M for an IFR flight to…

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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