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NTSB Report

September 5, 1993 · Mooney M20C · N78992

Oak Grove, KY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 5, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Oak Grove, KY
Aircraft
Mooney M20C
Tail Number
N78992
Operator
David W Crispell
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO93LA157

THE 570 NAUTICAL MILES CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE BLOOMSBURG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HAD A FINAL DESTINATION OF OUTLAW FIELD LOCATED IN CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE PILOT STATED THAT A FEW MILES FROM OUTLAW FIELD, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK QUANTITY WAS MEASURED TO BE ABOUT ONE INCH DEEP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 48 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT ALSO STATED, 'I MADE SOME REAL FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS IN FUEL CALCULATION, DISTANCE OF FLIGHT, [AND] TIME ZONE CHANGE. THE MOST SERIOUS ERROR I THINK WAS THE REFUSAL TO BELIEVE THAT I HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL.'

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INNACURATE PREFLIGHT FUEL CONSUPTION CALCULATIONS AND INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Full Narrative

On Saturday, September 4, 1993, at about 2016 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N78992, owned, operated and piloted by David W. Crispell, lost total engine power and an emergency landing was made in a field in Oak Grove, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 570 nautical miles cross country flight originated from the Bloomsburg Municipal Airport in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, at about 1530 eastern daylight time, and was destined for the Outlaw Field in Clarksville, Tennessee. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the airplane was a few miles away from the Outlaw Field when the airplane's engine lost total power. He stated that he had selected a landing area, but there were many obstacles to clear. He stated that after maneuvering around the obstacles, the airplane's airspeed and altitude were not enough to get the airplane to the landing area selected. The pilot stated that while trying to maneuver the airplane over a hedge, the airplane stalled at about 20 feet above the ground. The airplane descended and fell to the ground, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the wings and fuselage. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no airframe or engine anomalies. The right fuel tank was intact and the fuel cap was installed and secure. The right fuel tank was empty. The left fuel tank was intact and the fuel tank cap was installed and secure. A stick was put down into the left fuel tank and the fuel quantity measured to be one inch high on the stick. The fuel selector in the cockpit was selected to the "LEFT" fuel tank. The pilot stated that the airplane had about 48 gallons of fuel on board prior to takeoff. A fuel receipt from Columbia Aircraft Services, Inc., located on the Bloomsburg Municipal Airport, shows that the airplane was fueled on the day of the accident and received 15.7 gallons of 100 low lead fuel. The pilot wrote on his accident report form, "I made some real fundamental errors in fuel calculation, distance of flight, [and] time zone change. The most serious error I think was the refusal to believe that I had run out of fuel."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:16 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20C
Tail NumberN78992
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDavid W Crispell
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data