Mooney M20E accident near Livermore, California, February 24, 2021
On February 24, 2021, a 1967 Mooney M20E, registered N3254F, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Livermore, California (Livermore Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of corrosion and rust in the fuel injection servo.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2021 · cases in 2021
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E, built 1967 · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N3254F · no longer on the register · serial 670047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane impacted a car, resulting in substantial damage. An engine examination revealed rust and a black material on the fuel injection servo filter plug. The fuel flow servo diaphragm contained a hard grey sludge. When the fuel injection servo was functionally tested, no fuel flow was observed. The servo was disassembled, and corrosion and debris were identified in the regulator center body and diaphragm assembly. It is likely that corrosion and debris restricted the flow of fuel to the engine, resulting in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Fatigue/wear/corrosion other cases naming the engine
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 998 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 873 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 10, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 2021
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER (piston); 440 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from LVK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident site shows the right side of the airplane with the car against it.
Photo 2 - Right Side of Airplane with damage to the wing tip and length of the wing.
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2022. 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 | Summary of Findings (NTSB) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Fuel Servo Exam (NTSB) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Chain of Custody | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3254F: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Mooney M-20 6,245 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mooney 5,394 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER 8,561 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Livermore Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA119.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.