# NTSB MIA02LA020: Mooney M20C, N6753U, High Springs, FL, November 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 18, 2001, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: High Springs, FL - Coordinates: 29.820976, -82.589462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8210&lon=-82.5895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53802/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation and failure to ensure sufficient fuel was available to complete the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced landing, and damage to the aircraft when it collided with a fence during the landing rollout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot stated that the aircraft was in cruise flight at an altitude of 7,000 feet, when all of a sudden the engine ceased operating. He further stated that he then engaged the fuel boost pump, and switched to the left fuel tank, and engine power was restored, but about 10 seconds after power had been restored, the engine ceased operating again. He said he again switched tanks, but the engine failed to operate a second time, and he ended up making a forced landing to a field. The pilot later stated to the NTSB that the reason the engine ceased operating was due to fuel exhaustion. According to the pilot, his wife, a passenger on the flight, had ordered fuel at Shelby County Airport in Alabaster, Alabama, prior to them departing on the flight, but the fuel had not been provided. In addition, an employee at the Shelby County Airport stated that fuel had been ordered for N6753U, but the linesman had forgotten the order, and that no fuel had been placed in the accident aircraft's fuel tanks, as was requested. An FAA Inspector who conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft, said that during his investigation of the accident aircraft, he found no breaches to fuel system, and that all aircraft fuel tanks were "bone dry." ## Factual narrative On November 18, 2001, about 1310 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20C, N6753U, registered to, and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, suffered a loss of engine power, while in cruise flight in the vicinity of High Springs, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Alabaster, Alabama, the same day, about 0940. The pilot stated that his aircraft was in cruise flight at an altitude of 7,000 feet, and he had just received a radio communications report from FAA Jacksonville Approach Control, of traffic traveling in the opposite direction, at the 12 o'clock position, and at an altitude of 6,000 feet, when all of a sudden the aircraft engine ceased operating. The pilot stated that the aircraft immediately lost about 200 feet of altitude, and he also noted that the tachometer was indicating zero rpms. The pilot further stated that he then engaged the fuel boost pump, and switched to the left fuel tank, and engine power was restored. He said he then informed Jacksonville Approach Control that he was having engine troubles, with his primary concern being to avoid the opposing traffic that he had been informed of. According to the pilot, about 10 seconds after power had been restored, the engine ceased operating again, and he again switched tanks, but the engine failed to operate a second time. He said he then requested assistance from approach control in finding a suitable airport where he could land, and in the process of searching for the airport, he ended up having to make a forced landing to a field. During the landing rollout the aircraft incurred substantial damage when it impacted a fence. The pilot later stated that to the NTSB that the reason the engine ceased operating was due to fuel exhaustion. According to the pilot, his wife, a passenger on the flight, had ordered fuel at Shelby County Airport in Alabaster, Alabama, prior to departing. The pilot further stated that prior to departing he had even visually checked the tanks, and had thought he saw full tanks, but he did not dip the tanks, and later determined that it must have been an illusion due to the reflection in the tanks, after having learned that the linesman had not placed any fuel in his aircraft, as his wife had requested. An employee at the Shelby County Airport stated that fuel had been ordered for N6753U, but the linesman had forgotten the order, and that no fuel had been placed in the accident aircraft's fuel tanks as was requested. An FAA Inspector who conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft, said that during his investigation of the accident aircraft, he found no breaches to fuel system, and that all aircraft fuel tanks were "bone dry." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6753U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6753U-2010-11-16), registration cancelled 2010-11-16, S/N 2475, built 1963 (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: 2475 - Airframe hours: 3487 - Engines: Textron Lyc. O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Gentry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2001, 121 hours before - Departed: EET, Alabaster, AL - Destination: GNV, Gainesville, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Co-pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 11, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 465 total, 354 in this make and model, 404 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 30 nm away 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.