# NTSB ERA22LA099: Mooney M20C, N79396, Southeast Arcadia, FL, January 1, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 1, 2022, 12:11 local (17:11 UTC)
- Place: Southeast Arcadia, FL · orange orchard
- Coordinates: 27.20004, -81.830592
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2000&lon=-81.8306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104484/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104484
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA099

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: 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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); 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)
- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was making a personal flight and that he would buy fuel after arriving at the destination airport. While on final approach to land, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot stated that the fuel gauge showed about 4 gallons of fuel in the right tank (the fuel selector was set to the right-wing tank) and that the fuel boost pump was turned on. The pilot stated that the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and that he performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident engine test runs found that the engine performed normally through all power settings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that the carburetor heat temperature gauge indicated 60°F. The pilot reported that he had flown about 4 hours since last refueling the airplane and that the airplane had 19 gallons of fuel for the flight. According to these numbers, the airplane would have burned about 8.0 to 8.5 gallons of fuel per hour. As such, the airplane would have had enough fuel to complete the 76.5-nautical mile flight. Because the airplane had sufficient fuel to complete the flight and no mechanical issues were identified that would have precluded normal operation, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence for this accident.

## Factual narrative

On January 1, 2022, about 1211 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20C, N79396, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arcadia Municipal Airport (X06), Arcadia, Florida. The private pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection before departing from Pilot Country Airport (X05), Brooksville, Florida, about 1100. He verified that the airplane had 19 gallons of fuel onboard, which he determined was sufficient to complete the 76.5-nautical mile flight (and have a 1-hour reserve) to X06, where he planned to purchase fuel. The pilot stated that the flight to X06 was uneventful until he turned onto final approach to land. He indicated that, with the fuel selector set to the right-wing tank while the airplane was at an altitude of 300 to 400 ft, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot reported that the fuel gauge showed about 4 gallons of fuel in the right tank and that the fuel boost pump was turned on. The pilot also reported that the carburetor ice temperature sensor indicated 60°F. The pilot stated that the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and that he landed in a field adjacent to the runway. The right wing and left horizontal stabilizer struck a tree, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported a strong smell of fuel as he and the passenger were exiting the airplane. According to recovery personnel, both wing fuel tanks were breached from impact and contained no usable fuel. A test run of the engine found that the engine ran normally through all power settings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the airplane’s fueling history revealed that the pilot last fueled the airplane with 41.8 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel 5 days before the accident. The airplane has a total usable fuel load of 52 gallons. The pilot stated that he had flown about 4 hours since last refueling the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79396](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79396-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 2932, 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: 2932
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 3086
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2021
- Departed: X05, Brooksville, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: X06, Arcadia Muni, runway 24, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 26, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 860.2 total, 560.6 in this make and model, 813.2 as pilot in command, 26.9 in the last 90 days, 14.1 in the last 30 days, 2.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KPGD, 19 nm away
- METAR: KPGD 011710Z AUTO 19010KT 10SM SCT034 SCT047 27/20 A3007 RMK T02700200 MADISHF

## 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 20220101000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220101000289A), Jan 1, 2022: Mooney M20C, Arcadia, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot stated, on approach at about 400 feet aircraft engine quit. Pilot could not make the runway and crashed into an orange grove located next to the airport.…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104484. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13585043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� engine run (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13584366&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Smalley-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from Mooney manual (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13585227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=fuel%20burn-Rel.pdf
- Fuel receipt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13847083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20Receipt%20(N79396)%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13584530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.

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