Mooney 20G accident near Naples, Florida, March 6, 1999
On March 6, 1999 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Mooney 20G, registered N3588X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naples, Florida (Naples Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 improper procedure by not placing the fuel selector on the tank with the most fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a off airport forced landing. Contributing factors in this accident were the pilot's inadequate pre-flight and in-flight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1999 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney 20G
- Registration
- N3588X · no longer on the register · serial 680157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was in the traffic pattern and the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot reported that he had completed a touch-and-go on runway 14, and on climb out was assigned a right hand traffic pattern. On crosswind the airplane's engine lost complete power. The pilot said, '...I pitched down and tried to restart the engine, on either tank using both the starter and windmilling.' He attempted to make a forced landing to a golf course, but decided on a road, because there were people on the golf course. The airplane landed on the road gear up, heading southbound, skidded forward, and the right wing struck two mailboxes. The airplane continued forward striking a tree, and separating a portion of the right wing. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no fuel in the right main tank. No fuel was found in the carburetor, and the fuel selector was found in the 'OFF' position. About 10 gallons of fuel were found in the left tank. The left fuel system operated without discrepancies, and fuel flowed from the tank. No broken fuel lines were found, and the engine displayed no discrepancies. The airplane flew 1.7 hours before the flight on March 6, 1999. The airplane was last refueled on February 11, 1999. The FAA inspector wrote in his report, '...subsequent fuel calculations revealed that at the time of the accident, the right fuel tank would have been empty of usable fuel.' In addition the pilot said, '...that when the engine failed...that he had been flying on the right tank for approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident. He also stated that he tried to select the left fuel tank but it is possible that he may have selected the 'Off' position inadvertently.'
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: 284 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1998; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,525 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APF at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from APF, 2 miles away
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.