# NTSB ERA26LA323: Mooney M-20, N3706N, Stanfield, NC, September 1, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 1, 2026, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Stanfield, NC
- Coordinates: 34.815575, -80.399501 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8156&lon=-80.3995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203724
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203724/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203724
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA323

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to adequately manage the available fuel onboard the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing on uneven terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M-20G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=5870216), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M-20G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870216), [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 starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M-20G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870216), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M-20G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870216), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

As the airplane approached the destination airport nearing the conclusion of 2 ½ hour-long cross-country flight the pilot reported that the airplane’s engine lost power. He attempted to restore engine power by manipulating the engine’s controls but was unsuccessful. He subsequently performed a forced landing to uneven terrain, and during the landing the airplane’s landing gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also stated that following the accident, he observed the airplane’s left fuel tank was empty and realized that he had not repositioned the fuel selector from the left fuel tank following the loss of engine power (the right wing fuel tank was full). Given this information, the loss of engine power was likely the result of fuel starvation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3706N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3706N), registered now, S/N 680044, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20 (G)
- Registry model: [Mooney M-20G](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-20g) (registry code 5870216) (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: 680044
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 4160.6
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jsn Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Jsn Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2026
- Departed: ONX, Maple, NC
- Destination: EQY, Monroe, NC
- Airport: EQY, Monroe/ Charlotte Executive

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2025; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 539.9 total, 14.2 in this make and model, 455.5 as pilot in command, 54.3 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5.7 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot-rated passenger; medical: class 1; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: LKR, 23 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLKR 012055Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 35/21 A3005

## Other investigations on N3706N (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW76FQG30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FQG30), Oct 7, 1975: Mooney M20K (N3706N), Claude, TX, substantial damage

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203724. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21006541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form,%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21006551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR,%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Passenger aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21005957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form%20Passenger_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, passenger (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21006210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR,%20Passenger%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20997513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20PDF-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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