N78992

On Saturday, September 4, 1993, at about 2016 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N78992, owned, operated and piloted by David W. Crispell, lost total engine power and an emergency landing was made in a field in Oak Grove, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 570 nautical miles cross country flight originated from the Bloomsburg Municipal Airport in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, at about 1530 eastern daylight time, and was destined for the Outlaw Field in Clarksville, Tennessee. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that the airplane was a few miles away from the Outlaw Field when the airplane's engine lost total power. He stated that he had selected a landing area, but there were many obstacles to clear. He stated that after maneuvering around the obstacles, the airplane's airspeed and altitude were not enough to get the airplane to the landing area selected. The pilot stated that while trying to maneuver the airplane over a hedge, the airplane stalled at about 20 feet above the ground. The airplane descended and fell to the ground, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the wings and fuselage.

Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no airframe or engine anomalies. The right fuel tank was intact and the fuel cap was installed and secure. The right fuel tank was empty. The left fuel tank was intact and the fuel tank cap was installed and secure. A stick was put down into the left fuel tank and the fuel quantity measured to be one inch high on the stick. The fuel selector in the cockpit was selected to the "LEFT" fuel tank.

The pilot stated that the airplane had about 48 gallons of fuel on board prior to takeoff. A fuel receipt from Columbia Aircraft Services, Inc., located on the Bloomsburg Municipal Airport, shows that the airplane was fueled on the day of the accident and received 15.7 gallons of 100 low lead fuel.

The pilot wrote on his accident report form, "I made some real fundamental errors in fuel calculation, distance of flight, [and] time zone change. The most serious error I think was the refusal to believe that I had run out of fuel."