On July 4, 2005, a Mooney M20K (registration N5791U) was involved in an aviation accident near Kennett, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The fuel starvation, inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and inadequate in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane lost all engine power during final approach about 1/4 mile from the runway. Post-accident inspection revealed low fuel in the right tank and a gauge discrepancy.
Accident Sequence
During the final approach to the destination airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. At the time, the airplane was approximately 1/4 mile from the landing runway and at an altitude between 200 and 300 feet above ground level. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain about 200 feet from the touchdown zone of the landing runway.
Post-Accident Inspection
Following the accident, an inspection of the airplane was conducted. The right fuel tank contained less than 6 ounces of fuel, while the left fuel tank contained 8.5 gallons of fuel. During the inspection, the left fuel gauge indicated 9 gallons of fuel, suggesting a slight discrepancy between the gauge reading and the actual fuel quantity.