# NTSB ERA12CA348: Mooney M20C, N2610W, Pembroke Pines, FL, May 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2012, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Pembroke Pines, FL - Coordinates: 26.001111, -80.240554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0011&lon=-80.2406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83709/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83709 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA348 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/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) - [Emergency descent: 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 the airplane had flown about 4 hours, 25 minutes, including two takeoffs and climbs, since its last fueling. When the airplane was about 3 miles from the destination airport at 1,200 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The fuel selector was positioned to the left main fuel tank when the power loss occurred. The pilot moved the selector to the right main fuel tank, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, he veered left to avoid an automobile and the left wing impacted a median. The airplane spun 180 degrees and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failure that would have precluded normal operation; however, there was impact-related damage to both wings. The left main fuel tank was intact and did not contain any fuel. Although the top of the right main fuel tank had been compromised, there was no evidence that fuel had leaked from that tank. About 1/2 gallon of fuel was found in the right main fuel tank. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane had been flying about 4 hours, 25 minutes since its last fueling, which included two takeoffs and climbs. Toward the end of a long cross-country flight, during approach to the destination airport, the engine lost all power. At that time, the airplane was approximately 3 miles from the destination airport at 1,200 feet above ground level. The fuel selector was positioned to the left main fuel tank when the power loss occurred. The pilot moved it to the right main fuel tank, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, he had to veer left to avoid an automobile and the left wing impacted a median. The airplane spun 180 degrees and came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings. The inspector noted that the left wing fuel tank was intact and did not contain any fuel. The right wing fuel tank had been compromised; however, it was only compromised on the top of the tank and no fuel leaked from the right main fuel tank. The inspector observed approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel in the right main fuel tank. The inspector did not observe and mechanical malfunctions that would have contributed to the loss of engine power, nor did the pilot report any. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2610W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2610W-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 3290, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (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: 3290 - Airframe hours: 2904 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcconnell William R - Registered owner: Mcconnell William R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2012, 5 hours before - Departed: AHN, Athens, GA - Destination: HWO, Pembroke Pines, FL - Airport: HWO, North Perry Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: HWO, 3 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 20120519008179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120519008179A), May 19, 2012: Mooney M20C, Cooper City, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed habersham county (ajr) with one passenger. Aircraft was on VFR flight inbound to hollywood north perry airport(hwo). Pilot experienced loss… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83709. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Left Side View of Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20%20Left%20Side%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right Side View of Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20%20Right%20Side%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.