# NTSB SEA89FA050: Mooney M20K, N94276, Incline Village, NV, February 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1989, 16:45 local (Feb 23, 1989, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Incline Village, NV
- Coordinates: 36.079952, -115.139816 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0800&lon=-115.1398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40913/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA050

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN TROUBLESHOOTING SURGING FUEL PRESSURE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS SNOW CONDITIONS WHICH IMPAIRED THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO MAKE A PROPER FORCED LANDING.

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF AT CRUISE, THE PILOT NOTED A LOSS OF FUEL FLOW. THE PILOT TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP ON AND FUEL FLOW RETURNED TO NORMAL. WITH THE FUEL BOOST PUMP OFF THE FUEL FLOW DROPPED BELOW 6 GPH AND THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DIED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS INTO HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND TEST RUN IN A TEST CELL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - fuel system - pressure too low (cause)
  - fuel system - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94276](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94276-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 25-0481, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0481
- Airframe hours: 2203
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-6B 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Performance Aircraft, Inc.
- Registered owner: Performance Aircraft Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1988, 55 hours before
- Departed: RNO, RENO, NV
- Destination: HWD, HAYWARD, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,504 total, 581 in this make and model, 3,313 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Observed at: RNO, 18 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 19890222028179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890222028179A), Feb 22, 1989: Mooney M20K, Incline Village, NV, Destroyed. Engine stopped en route. Landed in trees in heavy snow. No oil on dipstick but was test run ok. Oil cap was missing

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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