N5501Q

Substantial
Minor

MOONEY M20CS/N: 2939

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
NTSB Number
CEN11CA609
Location
Allen, OK
Event ID
20110831X50614
Coordinates
34.720554, -96.421386
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A total loss of engine power in flight due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel management.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N5501Q
Make
MOONEY
Serial Number
2939
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1965
Model / ICAO
M20CM20P
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
CARTER DONALD W
Address
PO BOX 685
Status
Deregistered
City
DAVIS
State / Zip Code
OK 73030-0685
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that while on a cross-country flight, the fuel in the left tank was exhausted and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore fuel to the engine by switching to the right tank which contained fuel; however, realizing that he was too low to attempt an engine restart, he elected to perform a gear up landing to a field. The airplane’s fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage during the landing. No other preimpact anomalies with the airplane were reported.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA609