N2610W

Substantial
Minor

MOONEY M20CS/N: 3290

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, May 19, 2012
NTSB Number
ERA12CA348
Location
Pembroke Pines, FL
Event ID
20120521X01010
Coordinates
26.001111, -80.240554
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N2610W
Make
MOONEY
Serial Number
3290
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1965
Model / ICAO
M20CM20P
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
120 AVIATION DR
Status
Deregistered
City
PALM COAST
State / Zip Code
FL 32164-2396
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane had been flying about 4 hours, 25 minutes since its last fueling, which included two takeoffs and climbs. Toward the end of a long cross-country flight, during approach to the destination airport, the engine lost all power. At that time, the airplane was approximately 3 miles from the destination airport at 1,200 feet above ground level. The fuel selector was positioned to the left main fuel tank when the power loss occurred. The pilot moved it to the right main fuel tank, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, he had to veer left to avoid an automobile and the left wing impacted a median. The airplane spun 180 degrees and came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings. The inspector noted that the left wing fuel tank was intact and did not contain any fuel. The right wing fuel tank had been compromised; however, it was only compromised on the top of the tank and no fuel leaked from the right main fuel tank. The inspector observed approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel in the right main fuel tank. The inspector did not observe and mechanical malfunctions that would have contributed to the loss of engine power, nor did the pilot report any.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA348