# NTSB ERA25LA273: Mooney M20R, N9166Z, New Port Richey, FL, June 9, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 9, 2025, 06:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: New Port Richey, FL
- Coordinates: 28.283083, -82.6407
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2831&lon=-82.6407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200582/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200582
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA273

## Probable cause

The pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

## Findings

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

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing flare, the airplane floated down the runway without touching down. The pilot felt uncomfortable attempting to land on the remaining runway, so he executed a go-around by adding full power and setting the flaps for climb. About 50 ft above the runway the engine stopped producing power. The airplane was too low for the pilot to fully troubleshoot, so he switched fuel tanks, but that did not restore power. The airplane descended into the runway overrun area and impacted brush and muddy terrain before coming to rest upright. The resulting impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The fuel tanks remained intact. Postaccident engine examination and an engine test run detected no anomalies of the fuel injected engine. The fuel tanks were then drained revealing about 2.5 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 13 gallons in the right tank. Each tank held 3 gallons of unusable fuel. The pilot reported that he should have had at least 17 gallons of fuel remaining in the tanks at the time of the accident, based on his estimate of the airplane’s fuel consumption and the airplane’s most recent fueling that occurred 8 days before the accident. This estimate was roughly consistent with the total quantity of about 16 gallons that were found during the postaccident examination. Based on the distribution of fuel found in the tanks after the accident, the pilot was likely operating on the left fuel tank and, during the go around, the engine was starved of fuel, which resulted in the loss of engine power. When the pilot switched tanks, the airplane was at too low an altitude to successfully restore power before it impacted the terrain.

## Factual narrative

On June 9, 2025, about 0600 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20R airplane, N9166Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near New Port Richey, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. About 40 days after the accident occurred, the pilot reported that he departed Inverness Airport (INF), Inverness, Florida, and flew for about 15 minutes to Hidden Lake Airport (FA40), New Port Richey, Florida, where he intended to land. During the landing flare to runway 5, which was 4,425 ft long, the airplane floated; the pilot reported that he was uncomfortable trying to land on the remaining runway, so he executed a go-around by adding full power and setting the flaps for a climb. During the maneuver, about 50 ft above the runway, the engine stopped producing power. There was no hesitation or “engine cough” that preceded the loss of power, and the pilot did not observe low fuel warning lights. The airplane was too low for the pilot to fully troubleshoot, so he switched fuel tanks, but that did not restore power and the airplane began to descend. The airplane descended into the runway overrun area and impacted brush and muddy terrain before coming to rest upright. Postaccident examination confirmed substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The right wing sustained damage to the wing spar, and there were multiple buckles and dents throughout the fuselage. According to the pilot, he should have had at least 17 gallons remaining in the fuel tanks at the time of the accident, based on his estimation of the airplane’s fuel consumption and the most recent fueling on June 1, 2025. A subsequent examination and engine test run was performed. The fuel-injected engine was operated with no anomalies observed. Fuel was subsequently drained from the fuel tanks. No contamination or water was observed in the fuel. The total amount of fuel drained from the left wing tank was about 2.5 gallons. The right wing tank contained about 13 gallons of fuel. The unusable amount of fuel per side was 3 gallons according to the Airplane Operating Manual.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9166Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9166Z), registered now, S/N 29-0035, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R
- Registry model: [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (registry code 5870225) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29-0035
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 3782
- Engines: Continental IO-550-G 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 2024, 173 hours before
- Departed: INF, Inverness, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: FA40, Hidden Lake, runway 05/23, 4,425 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,379 total, 2,354 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: BKV, 15 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBKV 090953Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/22 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02170217=

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200582. 62.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19451262&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20N9166z_6120_1_Form%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records excerpt (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 60.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19361357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19360010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA273%20-%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record_FAA and NTSB communication (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19360144&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20NTSB%20and%20FAA_N9166Z_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record_NTSB and pilot email summary (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20327599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR_NTSB%20and%20Pilot%20E-Mail%20Summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record_POH and AFM fuel limitations excerpt (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20327475&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR_%20AFM%20and%20POH%20Fuel%20Excerpt-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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