Mooney M20C N5651Q

Summary

On 17 September 2008 at about 15:05 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N5651Q, operated by Thomas Bellm, was involved in an accident near Bolingbrook, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 2008 at 15:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Bolingbrook, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Clow Intl (1C5)

Coordinates

41.6958, -88.1292

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N5651Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas Bellm

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morris → Morris

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08CA283

2 people had minor injuries.

The non-mechanical loss of engine power due to the pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel tank selector prior to takeoff and the subsequent fuel starvation during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he performed a "runup" and switched the fuel tank selector to the fullest tank prior to takeoff on a cross-country flight. During takeoff the pilot retracted the landing gear, climbed to about 300 feet above ground level, and then encountered a loss of engine power. He stated that he banked left to avoid housing and landed the airplane at an intersection with stopped traffic. An airframe and powerplant mechanic that assisted the first responders stated that he found the fuel selector switch in the four o'clock position between the three o'clock right hand tank position and the six o'clock off position. An on-scene examination of the airplane revealed no other preimpact anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.