# NTSB MKC90LA097: Mooney M20C, N6824N, Little Rock, AR, April 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 1990, 18:57 local (23:57 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Location: 34.7465° N, 92.2896° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Little Rock, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7465&lon=-92.2896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34971/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA097

## Probable cause

PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.  RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## 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 - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY ON FINAL APPROACH, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PILOT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS TO BE EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES OF FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6824N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6824N-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 680117, built 1968 (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: 680117
- Airframe hours: 1050
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HDI, CLEVELAND, TN
- Destination: LIT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,450 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LIT, 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 19900428013049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900428013049A), Apr 28, 1990: Mooney M20C, Little Rock, AR, Substantial damage. Lost power two miles short of airport. Fuel tanks empty after four hours 20 minutes of flight.

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.