The pilot told investigators that about 4 hours and 15 minutes after departure, the Mooney M20K’s engine lost all power.
He was successful in restoring engine power by switching fuel tanks and turning on the auxiliary fuel pump. However, the engine lost all power again about 5 miles from the destination runway.
He made a forced landing to a field near Lamar, Colorado, during which the airplane hit a fence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
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This October 2023 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
With pilots like you, we don’t need rust and corrosion to destroy airplanes. Hope you loose your ticket..
mooney m20j has a nice independant low fuel light which was quite accurate at 1.5 gal left which in leaned m20 j was 15 min ish. was useful as switch tanks reminder
Totally avoidable. This pilot did not know the aircraft at all and did not account for winds or any other factor affecting fuel use. This was a Special flight, had a Conditional inspection, and did not meet airworthiness standards.
Read the report to see why the pilot destroyed the aircraft. The fuel exhaustion was one component (interestingly, the morning of the accident flight, the mechanical fuel pump apparently failed, requiring replacement – poor running engine prior), but he compounded it by a really dumb mistake while on a 5 mile final at 90 knots.
I’m always wary of criticizing other pilots on darn near everything but I would never compromise on fuel load or stops to refuel. I don’t have the guts to try and hit maximum range and I know my plane well. Fuel gauges? Suggestions of capacity only. Glad no serious injuries
I wonder if the people that do this have crappy looking airplanes? I love my airplane so much because it is so beautiful this will never happen. I always land with plenty of fuel left. The one pictured looks kinda crappy.
I keep it simple. 48 gallon C can make five and a half hours. Always leave full and take off and cruise 2 hours on the left tank. Switch to right tank and land in three to four hours without switching back to left until refilling. Always fuel in both tanks and no landing distractions.
From the TSIO-360 engine operator manual, at 32 inches and 2,400 rpm, the engine will use 15+ to 16 gph, not 12 gph. The IO-360 may use 12 gph.
So with 75 gallons usable and 15-16 gph, the aircraft is out of fuel in about 4.5 hours..!!
This high time pilot lists ‘0’ time as pic in the M20K…Her really needed some instruction on the performance.
If full, about 66 gallons useable. Climb out, cruise at 75%, less than aggressive leaning, all gone. Doomed from the start.
Folks running out of gas is one mistake that isn’t forgivable!!!! Just plain dumb and you should loose your license over, never to fly again! No excuse for running out of gas ever. If gages don’t work, fix them, cap seals replace every annual, tanks leak, replace. For a 30 minute fuel stop he wouldn’t have damaged his plane. Stupid!!!