Mooney M20B N74518

Summary

On 15 April 2012 at about 20:30 local time, a Mooney M20B registered N74518, operated by Metzler Kevin W, was involved in an accident near Rosamond, California, 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

15 April 2012 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rosamond, California, United States

Nearest airport

Rosamond (L100)

Coordinates

34.8667, -118.2000

Aircraft

Mooney M20B

Registration

N74518

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Metzler Kevin W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rosamond → Rosamond

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA166

2 people had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s selection of an empty fuel tank prior to departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The engine lost power after takeoff and the pilot landed in a nearby field, where both wings collided with fence posts. The pilot reported that the left fuel tank was about 1/4 full and the right fuel tank was empty. He had the left fuel tank selected during start up and taxi. As he did his pre-takeoff engine run-up checks, he switched fuel tanks per his normal procedure but did not return the selector valve to the left tank prior to departure. Both wings sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.