On April 28, 1990, a Mooney M20C (registration N6824N) was involved in an aviation accident near Little Rock, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the duration of the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent engine power loss. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A commercial pilot experienced an in-flight power loss approximately two miles from the runway during final approach, leading to a forced landing that caused substantial damage to the aircraft and serious injuries to the pilot.
What happened
The commercial pilot was conducting an approach when the engine lost power. At the time of the failure, the aircraft was positioned approximately two miles from the runway on final approach. The pilot attempted to execute an emergency landing under these conditions. The outcome of this maneuver resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and serious injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the fuel tanks were empty of usable fuel. This condition persisted after approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes of flight time, indicating a depletion of resources during the operation rather than an immediate mechanical failure at the moment of impact.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the fuel exhaustion that occurred during the extended flight duration. The lack of usable fuel directly led to the engine power loss while the aircraft was in close proximity to the airport, necessitating the emergency landing procedure.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the duration of the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent engine power loss.