# NTSB LAX05LA261: Mooney M20C, N6330Q, Oro Valley, AZ, August 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2005, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Oro Valley, AZ - Coordinates: 32.446666, -111.00389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4467&lon=-111.0039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62184/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA261 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations that resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the inaccuracy of the cockpit fuel gages which read 1/4 tank when empty. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - inaccurate (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While entering the arrival pattern at the destination the airplane exhausted its fuel and the pilot executed an emergency landing short of the runway. The pilot had been airborne for about 5 hours 10 minutes. She had been managing the fuel system by switching tanks about every hour. She made the final switch to the right tank 10 minutes prior to arriving at her destination airport. She overflew the destination airport and executed the prescribed entry. While in a left-hand turn to enter the downwind leg, and at 1,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to run abnormally and then lost power. She diverted to the crosswind runway, and landed short of the runway threshold in desert vegetation. An examination of the airplane revealed that neither the left wing fuel tank or the right wing fuel tank contained fuel. The tanks were not compromised and there was no evidence of fuel leakage. In this unfueled condition both left and right cockpit fuel gages read 1/4. The airplane was fueled with 1 gallon avgas in the left tank. The engine was started and ran satisfactorily. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2005, at 1245 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20C, N6330Q, collided with terrain while executing an emergency landing after a loss of engine power at La Cholla Air Park, Oro Valley, Arizona. The commercial pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Novato, California, at 0735. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that they had been airborne for about 5 hours 10 minutes. She had been using standard fuel management procedures by switching tanks about every hour. She made the final switch to the right tank at 1230. At 1240, she overflew the La Cholla Air Park and executed a standard entry. While in a left-hand turn to enter the downwind leg, and at 1,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to run abnormally and then quit producing power. She diverted to the crosswind runway, and landed short of the runway threshold in desert vegetation. An examination of the airplane revealed that neither the left wing fuel tank or the right wing fuel tank contained fuel. In this unfueled condition both left and right cockpit fuel gages read 1/4. The airplane was fueled with 1 gallon avgas in the left tank. The engine was started and run for approximately 30 seconds before it was shutdown. The propeller was bent, causing the airplane to vibrate severely during the engine test run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6330Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6330Q-2007-04-17), registration cancelled 2007-04-17, S/N 670129, built 1967 (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: 670129 - Airframe hours: 2744 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Howard A. Richmond - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2004, 72 hours before - Departed: KDVO, Novato, CA - Destination: 57AZ, Oro Valley, AZ - Airport: 57AZ, La Cholla Airpark, runway 27, 1,850 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,845 total, 225 in this make and model, 1,653 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: right; flight hours: 917 total, 642 in this make and model, 706 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KBLH, 15 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 20050807022649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050807022649A), Aug 7, 2005: Mooney M20C, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 7, 2005, at 1245 pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6330Q, collided with terrain while executing an emergency landing after a loss of… 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.