Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee 38464
Saturday, August 30, 2008 11:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While approaching the destination airport at the conclusion of a cross country flight, the pilot contacted the fixed based operator via radio and advised that he was approaching the runway. Witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering in the vicinity of the airport, before the engine lost power. The airplane impacted trees and terrain about 1/2-mile northwest of the approach end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that only trace amounts of fuel remained in both fuel tanks, and within the carburetor float bowl. Fuel staining was observed along the underside of the airplane; however, the origin of the fuel stains could not be determined. No evidence of any other pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures were observed. The quantity of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the departure could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1125
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lawrenceburg
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38464
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351459N
Event Location Longitude 0871457W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID MSL
Elevation of weather observation facility 550
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25626
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2009 10:38PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6480U
NTSB Number NYC08FA298
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 M20C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2383
Certified Max Gross Weight 2575
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 May 29 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 2514
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name George C. Hammond
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lexington
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35648
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name George C. Hammond
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lexington
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 35648
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code 3I2
Departure City Point Pleasant
Departure State WV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2M2
Destination City Lawrenceburg
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 23 2009 2:52PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --