N74530

On October 14, 2002, approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20B, N74530, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted rocks during a forced landing near Loa, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at 0745 mountain daylight time at Wayne Wonderland Airport, Loa, Utah, and was en route to Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, Utah.

The pilot said that the engine "just quit," and he suspected it was fuel related. He said he had moved his seat aft to retrieve something off the back seat. A recovery crew noted that the fuel shut-off valve, located under the pilot's seat, was between the "right" and "off" positions. The right wing tank was empty, as it had been ripped open by a rock, and approximately 10 to 11 gallons of fuel was drained out of the unbreached left wing tank.

The airplane sustained damage to the right wing aileron and front spar, and the ribs in both wings. The nose gear was folded aft, and the nose gear box was damaged.

The pilot said he had recently purchased the airplane and had logged 21 hours of flight time, 19 of which he had logged in the 90 days prior to the accident.