Fernandina Beach Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fernandina Bch, Florida 32034
Monday, March 14, 1988 21:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT FLEW A FLIGHT THAT CONSUMED ABOUT 31 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM A 31 GALLON TANK. THE OTHER FUEL TANK STILL HAD 31 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE ENGINE FAILED ON BASE LEG AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. THE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK AS REQUIRED BY THE BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FERNANDINA BCH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32034
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FERNANDINA BEACH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 55J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 40
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2058 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID JAX
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 279
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 23 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36009
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4781H
NTSB Number MIA88FA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M-20J
Aircraft Series Identifier M-20J
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0872
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 24 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 157
Airframe Hours 1319
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DALE M. HARROLD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15109 MADEIRA WAY
Aircraft Owner City MADEIRA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33708
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GPT
Departure City GULFPORT
Departure State MS
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 5300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --