Summary
On August 30, 2011, a Mooney M20C (N5501Q) was involved in an accident near Allen, OK. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A total loss of engine power in flight due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel management.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA609. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5501Q.
Accident Details
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
Registered Owner (Historical)
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