Pilot Debrief

Mooney M20C near Wildwood, NJ — 2018-11-10

Final reportERA19TA042
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Date
2018-11-10
Location
Wildwood, NJ, USA
Airport
WWD
Aircraft
Mooney M20C
Registration
N78870
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to initiate a 180° turn following the loss of power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane contained 21 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and 3 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank before the flight. The pilot performed the engine start, taxi, runup, and takeoff with the fuel selector on the right fuel tank. During the initial climb, at an altitude between 100 and 200 ft above ground level, the engine sputtered and then lost all power. With about 1,700 ft of runway remaining, the pilot entered a right turn, and the airplane impacted the ground left of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, the left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the right fuel tank contained no fuel, and the left fuel tank contained about 20 gallons. The fuel selector was found in the left tank position. It is likely that, during the accident sequence, the pilot moved the fuel selector to the left tank position; but the airplane’s low altitude at the time of the loss of power provided insufficient time to restore fuel flow before impact. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to initiate a 180° turn following the loss of power despite the runway remaining.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have switched to the left fuel tank before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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