ERA19TA042

Factual narrative

On November 10, 2018, about 1530 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20C, N78870, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wildwood, New Jersey. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the left fuel tank contained about 21 gallons of fuel, and the right fuel tank contained about 3 gallons. He used the right fuel tank for engine startup, taxi, runup and takeoff. A video recorded by a witness captured most of the flight. The airplane took off from runway 28, which was 4,998 ft long. About 7 seconds after liftoff, the landing gear were in the fully retracted position. About 15 seconds after liftoff, at an altitude of about 150 ft above ground level, the engine began to “sputter” and then stopped. About 21 seconds after liftoff, while still over the runway and with about 1,700 ft of runway remaining, the airplane began a descending 180° turn to the right and impacted a drainage ditch left of runway 10. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the outboard 3 ft of the right wing, as well as the left horizontal stabilizer and the left elevator. No fuel was found in the right-wing fuel tank, and about 20 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left-wing fuel tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the left fuel tank position. The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was 14 months before the accident. According to FAA airman records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate. His most recent FAA third-class medical examination was performed on June 3, 2016, at which time he reported 900 hours of total flight experience. The pilot reported that the airplane contained 21 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and 3 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank before the flight. The pilot performed the engine start, taxi, runup, and takeoff with the fuel selector on the right fuel tank. During the initial climb, at an altitude between 100 and 200 ft above ground level, the engine sputtered and then lost all power. With about 1,700 ft of runway remaining, the pilot entered a right turn, and the airplane impacted the ground left of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, the left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the right fuel tank contained no fuel, and the left fuel tank contained about 20 gallons. The fuel selector was found in the left tank position. It is likely that, during the accident sequence, the pilot moved the fuel selector to the left tank position; but the airplane’s low altitude at the time of the loss of power provided insufficient time to restore fuel flow before impact. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to initiate a 180° turn following the loss of power despite the runway remaining. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
• — Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot