# NTSB DFW08CA180: Mooney M20, N7072V, Rogers, AR, July 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2008, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Rogers, AR - Coordinates: 36.369998, -94.103332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3700&lon=-94.1033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68408/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA180 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she departed on a cross-country flight, with a planned duration of about 3 hours and 20 minutes. During the flight she leaned the mixture and switched fuel tanks on the hour. During the approach to the destination airport the engine "coughed and ran rough", the pilot stated that she changed fuel tanks and turned on the boost pump. The engine "coughed" again, and she determined that she could not make the runway, which was about 4 miles way. She elected to perform a forced landing in a nearby field. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the forced landing. Air traffic control tower's last radio contact with the aircraft stated that the pilot reported that she did not have enough gas and would have to land in a field. Aircraft recovery personnel reported that the fuel tanks had not been breeched during the accident and that the fuel tanks were empty. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that she departed on a cross-country flight, with a planned duration of about 3 hours and 20 minutes. During the flight she leaned the mixture and switched fuel tanks on the hour. During the approach to the destination airport the engine "coughed and ran rough", the pilot stated that she changed fuel tanks and turned on the boost pump. The engine "coughed" again, and she determined that could not make the runway, which was about 4 miles way. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a nearby field. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the forced landing. Air traffic control tower's last radio contact with the aircraft, stated that the pilot reported that she did not have enough gas and would have to land in a field. Aircraft recovery personnel reported that the fuel tanks had not been breeched during the accident and that the fuel tanks were empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7072V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7072V-2012-04-09), registration cancelled 2012-04-09, S/N 20-1209, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20 - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-1209 - Airframe hours: 4175 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Double J Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2007 - Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: ROG, ROGERS, AR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ROG, Rogers Municipal-Carter Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 5,698 total, 38 in this make and model, 5,489 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KROG ## 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 20080709840779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080709840779A), Jul 9, 2008: Mooney M20, Rogers, AR, Destroyed. (-23) On July 0, 2008, at 1158 central daylight savings time, a Mooney M20 received substantial damage during an off airport landing near Rogers Arkansas after… 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.