# NTSB FTW81FRG61: Mooney M20E, N55FE, San Antonio, TX, August 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 28, 1981
- Place: San Antonio, TX · SAN ANTONIO, TX
- Location: 29.4241° N, 98.4936° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Antonio, TX, within about 13 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4241&lon=-98.4936&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRG61
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRG61

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1964  81/8/28    SAN ANTONIO,TX      MOONEY M20E         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2350                    N55FE               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  46, 5431 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            1215 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANTONIO,TX              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: SPECTATOR
        REMARKS- R WING COLLIDED W NEWSPERSON DRG TKOF FM ROADWAY AFTER PRCTNRY LNDG.WND GSTG 15KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55FE-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 619, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage

## 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 19810828058289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810828058289A), Aug 28, 1981: Mooney M20E, San Antonio, TX. Landed on freeway out of fuel. Refueled. Wingtip struck photographer standing on edge of road during takeoff.

## Other investigations on N55FE (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 CEN11CA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA427), Jun 29, 2011: Mooney M20E (N55FE), Frankston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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