Casualties unknown

2004-01-01: Mooney M20R (N5284C) — Sheridan, AR

Sheridan, AR, US

On January 1, 2004, a Mooney M20R (registration N5284C) was involved in an aviation accident near Sheridan, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel tank selector. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft lost engine power 2.5 miles from its destination. Post-accident inspection revealed the left fuel tank empty, right tank containing 25 gallons, and fuel selector on LEFT. An engine run later found no anomalies.

Accident Overview

An aircraft experienced a loss of engine power approximately 2.5 miles from its intended destination. The pilot, who held a total flight time of 4,800 hours, reported that prior to departure the fuel tanks were topped off with 82 gallons of fuel.

Post-Accident Examination

An FAA inspector who responded to the accident site examined the aircraft. The inspection revealed that the right fuel tank contained approximately 25 gallons of fuel, while the left fuel tank was empty. The fuel selector valve was found positioned in the "LEFT" tank position.

Engine Run

On February 24, 2004, an engine run was conducted under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The inspector reported finding no anomalies during the run.

Additional Information

The accident investigation did not provide further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, location, date, number of occupants, injuries, or damage. The cause of the power loss was not explicitly stated in the source material.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040116X00070. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.