Mooney M20C N5677Q
3 August 1990 · Roswell, New Mexico, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 August 1990 at about 17:47 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N5677Q, operated by Smith, George F., was involved in an accident near Roswell, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:47
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Roswell, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.6395, -104.3799
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C
- Registration
- N5677Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Smith, George F.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- El Paso → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN90LA167
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE INTENTIONAL WHEELS UP LANDING IN SOFT TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS, IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR DURING ATTEMPTED RESTARTS, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
PLT SAID HE HAD 52 GALS FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE DEPARTED EL PASO, TX, EN ROUTE TO ROSWELL, NM ON PRACTICE X-COUNTRY FLT. HE MADE TWO PRACTICE ILS APCHS AT ROSWELL, THEN STARTED CLIMBING TOWARDS ROSWELL VORTAC, EN ROUTE BACK TO EL PASO. AS HE REACHED 4500 FEET MSL, ENG LOST PWR. PLT TURNED BACK TOWARDS ROSWELL, ESTABLISHED GLIDE, AND DECLARED EMERG. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENG BUT HAD NO SUCCESS. REALIZING HE HAD INSUFFICIENT ALT TO REACH ARPT, PLT MADE INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP LANDING ON SOFT, IRREGULAR TERRAIN. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED FUEL SELECTOR WAS BETWEEN OFF AND RIGHT TANK DETENTS. FUEL SUPPLY LINE WAS DISCONNECTED. WHEN MASTER AND BOOST PUMP SWITCHES WERE TURNED ON, NO FUEL CAME OUT. WHEN FUEL SELECTOR WAS SWITCHED COMPLETELY TO RIGHT TANK, STILL NO FUEL CAME OUT. WHEN FUEL SELECTOR WAS SWITCHED TO LEFT TANK, FUEL POURED OUT OF FUEL SUPPLY LINE. EXAMINATION OF INTACT FUEL TANKS REVEALED LEFT TANK CONTAINED FUEL; RIGHT TANK DID NOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1990 | Mooney M20C | Troutdale, Oregon, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1990 | Mooney M20C | Madison Creek, Alaska, United States | Michael D. Landa | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1990 | Mooney M20C | Little Rock, Arkansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1990 | Mooney M20C | Lodi, California, United States | Gifford, Kevin H. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1990 | Mooney M20C | Kissimmee, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 1990 | Mooney M20C | Pensacola, Florida, United States | COX, Fritz L. | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1990 | Cessna 172RG | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Coronado Air Center | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Hughes 369HS | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | Charles Bella | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1990 | Cessna 150J | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | West Mesa Flying Assoc. Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C | Truth/Consequen, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1990 | Buchanan S1-S | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1990 | Stinson 108 | Clovis, New Mexico, United States | Young, Richard G. | No injuries | - |