Mooney M20C N6870N accident near Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot did not confirm the amount of fuel onboard the airplane during the preflight inspection, but later reported that the fuel gauges indicated that the left tank was about 1/4 full and that the right tank was about 1/3 full. He then departed on the airplane's first flight in nearly one year. During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. Only a few drops of fuel were recovered from the fuel pump and gascolator, but the fuel revealed no evidence of water or other contamination. The fuel tanks were not compromised during impact. No fuel was observed in the left tank, and 10 to 12 ounces were drained from that sump. The right tank appeared to contain several gallons of fuel; however, the amount could not be quantified. The fuel selector was positioned to the left tank. The pilot reported that he relied on bad information from the fuel gauges and overestimated the amount of fuel available in the left tank; therefore, the loss of engine power is consistent with fuel starvation due to the pilot's selection of the left fuel tank, which contained an unusable amount of fuel.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN16LA164 for the full record.