Mooney M20C accident near Kingston, Tennessee, March 17, 1996
On March 17, 1996 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N78896, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kingston, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1996 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Kingston, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N78896 · no longer on the register · serial 2911
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had just departed Meadow Lake, and was in cruise flight at about 2,000 feet above ground level when the aircraft engine lost power. He attempted to execute a forced landing in a field. The aircraft struck a utility building during the forced landing. The initial postcrash inspection revealed that the airplane was intact and fuel tanks did not appear to be compromised. The fuel tanks were examined, the right fuel tank contained no fuel, and the left fuel tank contained a small amount of residual fuel. The fuel gauges were inspected, and the right fuel quantity indicator showed full, although there was no fuel in the airplane. The pilot stated he did not perform a complete walk around of the airplane before the flight, or visibly check the fuel quantity. He used only the fuel gauges as a reference for fuel quantity, and thought he had 26 gallons on board before takeoff.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 786 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 648 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1996; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 30A Meadow Lake TN at 11:45 pm
- Destination: JAU Jacksboro TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from TYS, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.