Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB NYC08FA298
MOONEY M20C — Lawrenceburg, TN
| Date | August 30, 2008 |
| Location | Lawrenceburg, TN |
| Aircraft | MOONEY M20C |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering Fuel exhaustion |
| Pilot age | 61 |
| Pilot total time | 342 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | 33 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid level - C
What happened
While approaching the destination airport at the conclusion of a cross country flight, the pilot contacted the fixed based operator via radio and advised that he was approaching the runway. Witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering in the vicinity of the airport, before the engine lost power. The airplane impacted trees and terrain about 1/2-mile northwest of the approach end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that only trace amounts of fuel remained in both fuel tanks, and within the carburetor float bowl. Fuel staining was observed along the underside of the airplane; however, the origin of the fuel stains could not be determined. No evidence of any other pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures were observed. The quantity of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the departure could not be determined.