Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20C near Wichita, KS — 2016-03-18

Final reportCEN16LA129
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Date
2016-03-18
Location
Wichita, KS, USA
Airport
KAAO
Aircraft
MOONEY M20C
Registration
N9262M
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot's improper fuel management.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane and noted that both fuel tanks were full. The pilot then took off for the personal cross-country flight. During approach to landing at the destination airport, the pilot extended the downwind leg due to inbound instrument flight rules traffic. The engine then suddenly lost power, and the pilot conducted a forced landing. An examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The fuel tank selector was positioned to the left fuel tank, and the electric fuel pump was in the "off" position. No fuel was found in the left tank. There was no smell of fuel, no evidence of fuel spillage, and the fuel tank did not appear to have been breached. Some fuel, about 2 to 3 inches deep, was found in the right fuel tank. If the pilot had switched the fuel selector from the left to the right fuel tank and turned on the electric fuel pump, the engine would not have been starved of fuel.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before approach to ensure adequate fuel.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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