# NTSB NYC95LA046: Mooney M20J, N201JT, Huber Heights, OH, December 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1994, 19:50 local (Dec 27, 1994, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Huber Heights, OH - Coordinates: 39.840217, -84.110855 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8402&lon=-84.1109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38913/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight decision/planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. A factor is the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel system - exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing ## Analysis THE PILOT PLANNED ON A 4 HOUR FLIGHT, AND MADE A DEPARTURE WITH LESS THAN FULL FUEL TANKS. AFTER 4 HRS 35 MIN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY THE FAA REVEALED BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE MAIN FUEL STRAINER WAS EMPTY. THE PILOT HAD PREDICATED THE FLIGHT ON A FUEL BURN OF 9.6 GPH, AND 50 GALLONS ON BOARD AT DEPARTURE. THE FAA REPORTED THAT BASED UPON INTERVIEWS WITH THE PREVIOUS PILOT THE FUEL ON BOARD WAS MORE LIKE 44 GALLONS, WHICH AT 9.6 GPH WOULD EXHAUST THE FUEL SUPPLY AT 4 HRS 35 MINUTES. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1994, about 1950 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N201JT, piloted by Delmar Joe Cowan, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a residential area of Huber Heights, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no flight plan for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed Wichita, Kansas at 1415 destined for the Green County Airport, Dayton, Ohio, on a personal flight. In a written statement made to the Ohio State Police after the accident, the pilot stated: ...According to the POH, I had at least 50 gallons [of fuel] aboard [max useable fuel capacity 64 gallons]...According to the chart I would burn approximately 9.6 gallons per hour or 38 gallons which would be sufficient for my destination and a 1 hour reserve...On descent into [Green County] the left side ran dry. I still felt that I had approximately 1 hour [of fuel] in the right side. [Green County] was fogged in [at the time of arrival]. After circling 2-3 times, I then headed on to Dayton International and ran out of fuel. I then crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report stated: Investigation of the crash scene indicated that the airplane first hit the road, clipped a mailbox and then skidded into a parked car...The airplane came to rest on top of an automobile parked in the driveway [4 miles southeast from Dayton International]. The FAA post accident examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were empty. The main fuel strainer was checked and also found empty. The fuel selector was on the right tank. According to times contained in a statement submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated the airplane had been airborne 4 hours 35 minutes at the time of the accident. Using the airborne flight time of 4 hr 35 minutes, 50 gallons, which the pilot estimated was on board at takeoff, calculated a fuel burn of 10.95 gallons per hour (gph), with no allowance for climb. The FAA Inspector's report also stated: Conversation with the previous pilot [who flew the airplane] indicated more like 44 gallons [of fuel] on board [when the accident pilot departed]. Using 44 gallons, and based upon the pilot's estimated fuel burn of 9.6 gph, with no allowance for climb, the airplane would reach fuel exhaustion after 4 hours 35 minutes. According to fuel burn data from Lycoming for the IO-360-A series of engines, cruise fuel burn could vary between 8.3 gph at best economy and 9.8 gph at best power for a power setting of 2200 RPM and 21" manifold pressure, which the pilot reported using. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201JT-2013-07-17), registration cancelled 2013-07-17, S/N 24-0951, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0031 - Airframe hours: 2980 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Air Capital Flying Club Inc. - Registered owner: Air Capital Flying Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1994, 177 hours before - Departed: ICT, WICHITA, KS - Airport: DAY, James M. Cox Dayton ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,430 total, 201 in this make and model, 2,328 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 4 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 19941226042319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941226042319A), Dec 26, 1994: Mooney M20J, Dayton, OH, Substantial damage. Destination fogged in. After circling for some time diverted to day. Ran out of fuel. Crashed in residential area. ## Other investigations on N201JT (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA09LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA264), Apr 24, 2009: Mooney M20J (N201JT), Moncks Corner, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The reported partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. 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.