# NTSB ERA14CA104: Mooney M20C, N6762U, Rutherfordton, NC, January 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 26, 2014, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Rutherfordton, NC - Coordinates: 35.359554, -81.960464 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3596&lon=-81.9605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88715 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88715/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88715 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and in-flight monitoring of the fuel level which resulted in a total loss of engine power 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) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (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. - [Enroute-cruise: 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) - [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 According to the pilot, he checked the fuel gauges in the airplane before departing on a cross country flight. He stated that the left fuel gauge indicated 1/2 tank and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot did not visually check the fuel quantity in the tanks and did not take on any additional fuel. Approximately 60 nautical miles (NM) from his destination, he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The engine began to "stutter" and he switched back to the left fuel tank and the engine resumed normal operation. He located the nearest airport which was 10 NM from his location and made a turn towards it. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to "stutter" again and the pilot shut the engine down and made an emergency landing in a field. During the emergency landing, the airplane collided with trees, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached, and the left and right fuel tanks contained less than 1 gallon of fuel in each. A review of the pilot operating handbook (POH) revealed that each fuel tank held 26 gallons of fuel, for a total of 52 gallons. The POH stated that there is 48 gallons of usable fuel, which left 4 gallons of fuel unusable. The POH also revealed that the fuel tanks should be visually checked before flight. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he checked the fuel gauges in the airplane before departing on a cross country flight. He stated that the left fuel gauge indicated 1/2 tank and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot did not visually check the fuel quantity in the tanks and did not take on any additional fuel. Approximately 60 nautical miles (NM) from his destination, he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The engine began to "stutter" and he switched back to the left fuel tank and the engine resumed normal operation. He located the nearest airport which was 10 NM from his location and made a turn towards it. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to "stutter" again and the pilot shut the engine down and made an emergency landing in a field. During the emergency landing, the airplane collided with trees, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached, and the left and right fuel tanks contained less than 1 gallon of fuel in each. A review of the pilot operating handbook (POH) revealed that each fuel tank held 26 gallons of fuel, for a total of 52 gallons. The POH stated that there is 48 gallons of usable fuel, which left 4 gallons of fuel unusable. The POH also revealed that the fuel tanks should be visually checked before flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6762U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6762U-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 2484, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C (NO SERIES) - 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: 2484 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 2091 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Goeller S Derek - Registered owner: Goeller S Derek - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2012 - Departed: FTY, Atlanta, GA - Destination: HKY, Hickory, NC - Airport: FQD, Rutherford County Airport-Marc - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2005; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 480 total, 210 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 28.89 inHg - Observed at: HKY, 37 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 20140126004199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140126004199A), Jan 26, 2014: Mooney M20C, Rutherfordton, NC, Destroyed. Pilot depleted fuel source. APPROX1.5 gallons of fuel were drained from the aircraft tanks at the accident site. Fuel tanks did not rupture. Pilot decided to… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88715. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Logbook Pages (item 3, .PDF, 978 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook%20Pages-Redacted.PDF - Engine Logbook Pages (item 4, .PDF, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Pages-Redacted.PDF - Mooney 20C POH Pages (item 5, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mooney%2020C%20POH%20Pages-Master.PDF - Photo 1. View of Main Wreckage From Front (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20From%20Front%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of Main Wreckage From Right Side (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20From%20Right%20Side%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3. View of Aft Section of Airplane (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20View%20of%20Aft%20Section%20of%20Airplane%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4. View of Left Wing Damage (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20View%20of%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%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.