Mooney M20F accident near Suffolk, Virginia, August 3, 2009
On August 3, 2009 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N3549N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Suffolk, Virginia (Suffolk airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s failure to accurately calculate the fuel required for the flight. Contributing to the accident was a malfunction of the fuel quantity indicators.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2009 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Suffolk, Virginia · Suffolk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3549N · no longer on the register · serial 680093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he departed with ¼ tank of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks. He said that he was flying around for approximately an hour before he began "buzzing" his house. The engine then lost power and he made an emergency forced landing on a road when, during rollout, the airplane collided with a tree. Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel tanks were empty and were not breached. Further examination revealed that the airplane was equipped with electronic fuel quantity indicators. Examination of the electronic fuel indicators revealed that both indicators were not functioning correctly. Review of the Dual Fuel Level (FL-2) operating and installation instructions stated: "do not solely rely on the FL-2 to determine the fuel levels in the fuel tanks." Examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel quantity indicator › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rg Rentals LTD
The flight
- Departed from: SFQ Suffolk VA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SFQ Suffolk VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:01 pm from SFQ, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.