Event LAX06CA050

Factual narrative

On December 1, 2005, about 1720 Pacific standard time, a Mooney M20A, N6004X, made a hard landing on a road near China Lake, California, following a loss of engine power. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 1300, with a planned destination of Inyokern, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot stated that he departed Dodge City, Kansas, earlier in the day with a planned refueling stop in Albuquerque. The pilot reported that he had 49 gallons of fuel on board when he departed Albuquerque. After departing Albuquerque there were no discrepancies noted with the flight. About 1640, the pilot noticed a problem with his fuel pressure, and readjusted the throttle to attain best fuel efficiency. He contacted Joshua Approach Control, and reported "low fuel." The controller recommended the Trona, California, airport (L72) as an alternate landing site. He stated that as he manuevered for landing at L72, he encountered "extreme turbulence." The weather information the pilot had for L72 (winds 200 degrees at 24 knots gusting to 36 knots) indicated to him the crosswinds would exceed "the capabailities of the Mooney." The airplane lost power about 1 minute after crossing over Highway 178. The pilot switched fuel tanks and the engine restarted for about 20 seconds, then quit again. He chose to land on the highway instead of trying to make L72. The pilot stated that the section of highway 178 he was landing on was in Poison Canyon, where the road was not flat or straight. The pilot stated that in the darkness he was unable to see the rising road before he impacted the terrain. The airplane hit the ground and came to rest in between the road and a ditch. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The airplane made a hard landing on a road after losing engine power. The flight was the return leg of a long cross-country from Kansas, that included an intermediate refueling stop in New Mexico. The pilot departed the intermediate airport with 49 gallons of fuel on board and thought he had enough fuel to make it to his destination. As the flight neared the destination airport the pilot reported to the TRACON controller that he had a low fuel state. The controller suggested a closer alternate airport. While attempting to land at the alternate airport, the pilot encountered adverse weather conditions including turbulence and crosswinds that exceeded the capabilities of the airplane. He decided instead to make a forced landing on a winding and undulating road. The engine lost power at this point and the pilot switched fuel tanks. The engine restarted for about 20 seconds and then lost power again. The pilot was unable to see the rising road in the darkness and did not perform a flare. The airplane landed hard and came to rest in between the road and a ditch. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12