Fullerton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fullerton, California 92833
Monday, November 11, 2002 11:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot made a forced, gear up landing after losing engine power on takeoff. The right wing contacted the ground and the airplane landed hard on its belly. Postaccident inspection of the fuel system revealed that the right fuel tank was contaminated with approximately 32 ounces of water. Water was also found in the fuel distributor valve. The pilot stated that he performed a preflight check that included checking the fuel. He noted no discrepancies with the fuel or fuel system. The pilot departed with the fuel selector positioned on the right tank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection resulting in a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/11/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City FULLERTON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92833
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335200N
Event Location Longitude 1175800W
Event Location Airport Fullerton Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FUL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport 240
Airport Elevation 97
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1134 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID FUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 96
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) -1195
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15925
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 15 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 29 2004 7:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-LGB-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1072N
NTSB Number LAX03LA029
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1145
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 Jan 5 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 3252
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DON G. STEPHENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HUNTINGTON BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92646
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FUL
Departure City FULLERTON
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDM
Destination City San Diego
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 27 2004 2:13PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 3121
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --