Mooney M20E accident near Omaha, Nebraska, May 27, 1994
On May 27, 1994 at about 7:17 am local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N6942U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Omaha, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and the inadequate fuel supply for the flight. Factors related to the accident were the ditch and the quantity gage which gave a false indication.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1994 · about 7:17 am local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N6942U · no longer on the register · serial 312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BEGAN THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT USING THE LEFT FUEL TANK. HE THEN SELECTED THE RIGHT TANK UNTIL IT RAN DRY AT WHICH TIME HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT TANK. AFTER BEING CLEARED TO DESCEND TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A DITCH. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 1/2 CUP OF FUEL REMAINED ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT FUEL TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR SHOWED 30 POUNDS OF FUEL REMAINING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 874 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Austin TX at 2:45 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 am from OMA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.