# NTSB MKC79FCD13: Mooney M-20G, N3613N, Wellsburg, IA, March 10, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 10, 1979
- Place: Wellsburg, IA · WELLSBURG, IA
- Location: 42.4339° N, 92.9266° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wellsburg, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4339&lon=-92.9266&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137924
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC79FCD13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FCD13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0331  79/3/10    WELLSBURG,IA        MOONEY M-20G        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 163
        TIME - 1800                    N3613N              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 73 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MEMPHIS,TN                  WILLMAR,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3613N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3613N), registered now, S/N 680011, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20G
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial 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 19790310004499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790310004499A), Mar 10, 1979: Mooney M20G, Wellsburg, IA, Substantial damage. Engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion on cross country flight. Landed plowed field, nosed over.

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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