Mooney M20C accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, January 26, 2014
On January 26, 2014 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1963 Mooney M20C, registered N6762U, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Rutherfordton, North Carolina (Rutherford County Airport-Marc). 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
The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and in-flight monitoring of the fuel level which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2014 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rutherfordton, North Carolina · Rutherford County Airport-Marc · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C NO SERIES, built 1963 · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6762U · no longer on the register · serial 2484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he checked the fuel gauges in the airplane before departing on a cross country flight. He stated that the left fuel gauge indicated 1/2 tank and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot did not visually check the fuel quantity in the tanks and did not take on any additional fuel. Approximately 60 nautical miles (NM) from his destination, he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The engine began to "stutter" and he switched back to the left fuel tank and the engine resumed normal operation. He located the nearest airport which was 10 NM from his location and made a turn towards it. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to "stutter" again and the pilot shut the engine down and made an emergency landing in a field. During the emergency landing, the airplane collided with trees, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached, and the left and right fuel tanks contained less than 1 gallon of fuel in each. A review of the pilot operating handbook (POH) revealed that each fuel tank held 26 gallons of fuel, for a total of 52 gallons. The POH stated that there is 48 gallons of usable fuel, which left 4 gallons of fuel unusable. The POH also revealed that the fuel tanks should be visually checked before flight.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 480 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 25, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,091 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 2,091 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: HKY Hickory NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 28.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from HKY, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Aircraft Logbook Pages | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Logbook Pages | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Mooney 20C POH Pages | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 1. View of Main Wreckage from Front (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 2. View of Main Wreckage from Right Side (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 3. View of Aft Section of Airplane (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 4. View of Left Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.