# NTSB MIA99LA100: Mooney 20G, N3588X, Naples, FL, March 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 1999, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Naples, FL - Coordinates: 26.030857, -81.759887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0309&lon=-81.7599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA100 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper procedure by not placing the fuel selector on the tank with the most fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a off airport forced landing. Contributing factors in this accident were the pilot's inadequate pre-flight and in-flight planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The flight was in the traffic pattern and the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot reported that he had completed a touch-and-go on runway 14, and on climb out was assigned a right hand traffic pattern. On crosswind the airplane's engine lost complete power. The pilot said, '...I pitched down and tried to restart the engine, on either tank using both the starter and windmilling.' He attempted to make a forced landing to a golf course, but decided on a road, because there were people on the golf course. The airplane landed on the road gear up, heading southbound, skidded forward, and the right wing struck two mailboxes. The airplane continued forward striking a tree, and separating a portion of the right wing. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no fuel in the right main tank. No fuel was found in the carburetor, and the fuel selector was found in the 'OFF' position. About 10 gallons of fuel were found in the left tank. The left fuel system operated without discrepancies, and fuel flowed from the tank. No broken fuel lines were found, and the engine displayed no discrepancies. The airplane flew 1.7 hours before the flight on March 6, 1999. The airplane was last refueled on February 11, 1999. The FAA inspector wrote in his report, '...subsequent fuel calculations revealed that at the time of the accident, the right fuel tank would have been empty of usable fuel.' In addition the pilot said, '...that when the engine failed...that he had been flying on the right tank for approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident. He also stated that he tried to select the left fuel tank but it is possible that he may have selected the 'Off' position inadvertently.' ## Factual narrative On March 6, 1999, about 1210 eastern standard time, a Mooney 20G, N3588X, registered to a private individual, crashed during a forced landing near Naples, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated at 1130. The flight was in the traffic pattern, and the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot reported that after completing a touch-and-go on runway 14, and on climbout was assigned a right hand traffic pattern by the control tower. On crosswind the airplane's engine lost complete power. The pilot said, "...I pitched [the nose] down and tried to restart the engine, on either tank using both the starter and windmilling." He attempted to make a forced landing to a golf course, but decided on a road, because there were people on the golf course. The airplane landed on the road gear up, heading southbound, skidded forward, and the right wing struck two mailboxes. The airplane continued forward striking a tree, and separating a portion of the right wing. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no fuel in the right main tank. No fuel was found in the carburetor, and the fuel selector was found in the "OFF" position. About 10 gallons of fuel was found in the left tank. The left fuel system operated without discrepancies, and fuel flowed from the tank. No broken fuel lines were found, and the engine displayed no discrepancies. The airplane flew 1.7 hours before the flight on March 6, 1999. The airplane was last refueled on February 11, 1999. The FAA inspector wrote in his report, "...subsequent fuel calculations revealed that at the time of the accident, the right fuel tank would have been empty of usable fuel." According to the FAA inspector's report the pilot stated to him, "...that when the engine failed...that he had been flying on the right tank for approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident. He also stated that he tried to select the left fuel tank but it is possible that he may have selected the 'Off' position inadvertently." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3588X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3588X-2001-11-02), registration cancelled 2001-11-02, S/N 680157, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney 20G - Registry model: [Mooney M-20G](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-20g) (registry code 5870216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680157 - Airframe hours: 6960 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Gulf Coast Airways - Registered owner: Owliaei Bahram - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1998, 94 hours before - Departed: APF - Airport: APF, Naples Municipal, runway 14, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 284 total, 1 in this make and model, 172 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: APF, 2 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 19990306035069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990306035069A), Mar 6, 1999: Mooney M20G, Naples, FL, Substantial damage. (.4) The flight was in the traffic pattern and the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot reported that he had completed a… 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.