MOONEY M20B
Rosamond, CA — April 15, 2012
Event Information
| Date | April 15, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR12CA166 |
| Event ID | 20120416X65141 |
| Location | Rosamond, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 34.86666, -118.20000 |
| Airport | Rosamond |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | MOONEY |
| Model | M20B |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
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.
Full Narrative
The engine lost power after takeoff, and the pilot landed in a nearby field. Both wings collided with fence posts. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the left fuel tank was about 1/4-full, and the right fuel tank was empty. He had the left fuel tank selected on start up and taxi. As he did his pretakeoff run up checks, he switched fuel tanks per his normal procedure. He did not return the selector valve to the left tank prior to departure.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.