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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 13, 1987 · Mooney M20C · N6801U

Baltimore, MD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 13, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Baltimore, MD
Aircraft
Mooney M20C
Tail Number
N6801U
Operator
Raymond Rothschild
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO87LA054

THE PLT REFUELED THE ACFT AT PRINCETON, NJ, BFR DEPARTING ON A FLT TO LINDEN, NJ, THEN CONTINUED ON TO LAUREL, MD. HE BELIEVED THAT HE HAD POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RGT FUEL TANK & SAID THAT HE HAD USED FUEL OUT OF THE SAME TANK UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT LAUREL. AT LAUREL, THE PLT POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK, WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FULL. HE THEN DEPARTED ON A RETURN FLT TO PRINCETON. AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 6000', THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT DIVERTED TO THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON ARPT, BUT DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO RESTART THE ENG. HE ARRIVED OVER THE ARPT AT A RELATIVELY HIGH ALT & ELECTED TO CIRCLE TWICE TO DSCND. HOWEVER, HE LOST TOO MUCH ALT & DRG THE FINAL APCH, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT APCH LIGHTS ABOUT 200' SHORT OF THE RWY. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE EMPTY TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY DRG AN OPNL CHECK.

Full Narrative

THE PLT REFUELED THE ACFT AT PRINCETON, NJ, BFR DEPARTING ON A FLT TO LINDEN, NJ, THEN CONTINUED ON TO LAUREL, MD. HE BELIEVED THAT HE HAD POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RGT FUEL TANK & SAID THAT HE HAD USED FUEL OUT OF THE SAME TANK UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT LAUREL. AT LAUREL, THE PLT POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK, WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS FULL. HE THEN DEPARTED ON A RETURN FLT TO PRINCETON. AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 6000', THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT DIVERTED TO THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON ARPT, BUT DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO RESTART THE ENG. HE ARRIVED OVER THE ARPT AT A RELATIVELY HIGH ALT & ELECTED TO CIRCLE TWICE TO DSCND. HOWEVER, HE LOST TOO MUCH ALT & DRG THE FINAL APCH, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT APCH LIGHTS ABOUT 200' SHORT OF THE RWY. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL & THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE EMPTY TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY DRG AN OPNL CHECK.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:07 EDT
Nearest AirportBaltimore-Washington (0nm N)
Runway28
Runway Length9452 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20C
Tail NumberN6801U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRaymond Rothschild
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 9 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data