On July 22, 2000, a Mooney M20C (registration N6253U) was involved in an aviation accident near Longmont, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel starvation resulting from the pilot selecting a fuel tank with no usable fuel, and inadequate preflight fuel verification. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot experienced a total loss of engine power during climb after a touch-and-go landing. The aircraft landed in a field, striking a ditch. Investigation revealed the selected fuel tank contained no usable fuel, confirming fuel starvation.
Accident Details
During a local personal flight, the student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, while climbing after a touch-and-go landing, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The student pilot attempted to turn back and land on the same runway in the opposite direction but was unable to reach it. The aircraft was landed in a field, where during the landing roll it struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
The pilot reported that the engine quit due to fuel starvation. Investigation verified that the fuel tank selected by the pilot contained no usable fuel. The aircraft's total fuel capacity was 75.6 usable gallons, and the flight had departed with an estimated 25 gallons on board. The pilot's operating handbook for the airplane provides specific preflight and procedural guidance requiring pilots to verify fuel quantity before departure and to ensure that critical phases of flight, such as landing and takeoff, are conducted using the fullest fuel tank. The student pilot had accumulated 65 total flight hours, with 61 hours in the accident aircraft make and model.
Probable cause
Fuel starvation resulting from the pilot selecting a fuel tank with no usable fuel, and inadequate preflight fuel verification.