PAGE, AZ, USA
N6524U
MOONEY M20-C
THE AIRPLANE OWNER WAS CONDUCTING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR AN AIRPLANE CHECK-OUT. ABOUT 3 HRS AFTER DEPARTURE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE PILOTS DIVERTED TO PAGE. ABOUT 40 MIN LATER, THE FLIGHT ARRIVED OVER THE AIRPORT AND DESCENDED TO ENTER A DOWNWIND LANDING PATTERN. WHEN POWER WAS ADDED, THE PILOTS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FAILED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK DURING THE DESCENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS, AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF A CROSSWIND RUNWAY IN SOFT TERRAIN. A POSTCRASH INSPECTION BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER REVEALED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, AND 1-1/2 INCHES OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK WITH THE WINGS TIPPED DOWNWARD TOWARD THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE'S GENERATOR HAD FAILED.
On April 23, 1994, about 1245 hours mountain standard time, a Mooney M20-C, N6524U, collided with terrain during a forced landing at the Page Municipal Airport, Page, Arizona. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross- country instructional flight to Flagstaff, Arizona, when the accident occurred. The airplane, owned and operated by the second pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor (first pilot) sustained minor injuries. A certificated private pilot (second pilot) was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated at Salt Lake City Airport (U42), Salt Lake City, Utah, about 0915 hours. The first pilot reported that about 1205 hours over Kanab, Utah, the airplane's electrical system quit working. The pilots decided to divert to Page, Arizona, where maintenance facilities were located. Over the Page Airport, the second pilot, who had been flying the airplane, began a descent with the engine throttled back to 12 inches of manifold pressure and utilizing carburetor heat. The fuel selector was positioned on the right tank during the descent. About 800 feet above the ground, the second pilot attempted to add power and discovered that the engine had quit. Emergency procedures failed to restart the engine. The first pilot took over control of the airplane and landed in soft, sandy terrain about 300 feet short of runway 25. During the landing, the airplane received damage to the right wing, right main landing gear, and engine. National Transportation Safety Board investigators requested that the Page Airport manager document the airplane's condition before it was recovered. The manager reported that the nose wheel and right main landing gear collapsed. The right main gear strut penetrated the upper surface of the wing, aft of the rear fuel tank bulkhead. There was no evidence of a fuel leak. Examination of the left wing fuel tank revealed that it contained 1.5 inches of fuel with the wings tipped downward toward the right wing. The right wing fuel tank contained residual fuel. After the aircraft was recovered, an airworthiness inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office, examined the airplane on May 26, 1994. He reported that the engine started and ran normally on a test stand. The engine-driven generator did not produce any electrical power. The pilot did not include any airframe or engine accumulated time-in-service in the pilot/operator report. The pilot did include a receipt for the purchase of 9.8 gallons 100LL fuel on April 22, 1994. The pilot indicated that the airplane's fuel tanks were full prior to departure. The airplane has a fuel capacity of 48 gallons.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS TO ASSURE THAT AMPLE FUEL WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. THE GENERATOR FAILURE AND AN INOPERATIVE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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