Mooney M20C accident near Oak Grove, Kentucky, September 5, 1993
On September 5, 1993, a Mooney M20C, registered N78992, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Grove, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INNACURATE PREFLIGHT FUEL CONSUPTION CALCULATIONS AND INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1993
- Place
- Oak Grove, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N78992 · no longer on the register · serial 2026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 570 NAUTICAL MILES CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE BLOOMSBURG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HAD A FINAL DESTINATION OF OUTLAW FIELD LOCATED IN CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE PILOT STATED THAT A FEW MILES FROM OUTLAW FIELD, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK QUANTITY WAS MEASURED TO BE ABOUT ONE INCH DEEP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 48 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT ALSO STATED, 'I MADE SOME REAL FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS IN FUEL CALCULATION, DISTANCE OF FLIGHT, [AND] TIME ZONE CHANGE. THE MOST SERIOUS ERROR I THINK WAS THE REFUSAL TO BELIEVE THAT I HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,260 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1993; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N13 Bloomsburg PA at 7:40 pm
- Destination: CKV Clarksville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from HOP, 10 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.