- Date
- February 28, 2007, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Landenberg, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3278FMooney M20F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070228005099A
- Case key
- 65439
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and subsequent forced landing to a field.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the Mooney M20F departed on a local flight. Approximately 30 to 35 minutes after takeoff, the airplane's engine began to sputter, which was followed by a total loss of power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and airframe during an ensuing forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were intact, however, they contained no fuel. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane and attributed the loss of engine power to fuel exhaustion. He reported 2,065 hours of total flight experience, which included approximately 292 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the Mooney M20F departed on a local flight. Approximately 30 to 35 minutes after takeoff, the airplane's engine began to sputter, which was followed by a total loss of power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and airframe during an ensuing forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were intact, however, they were absent of fuel. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane and attributed the loss of engine power to fuel exhaustion. He reported 2,065 hours of total flight experience, which included approximately 292 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3278F
- Reported as
- Mooney M20F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 679371
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Joseph M. Glatts
- Registered owner
- Dream Chaser Unlimited
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2006
- Departed
- ILG · New Castle, DE
- Destination
- ILG · New Castle, DE
- Airport
- ILG · New Castle Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,065 total · 292 in this make and model · 1,861 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- ILG, 12 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.