23) OUT OF GAS, U-FIT

Mooney M20 | N242RE

April 26th, 2025 | Sparta, Tennessee

Accident Location

  • City: Sparta
  • State: Tennessee
  • Latitude: 36.028611
  • Longitude: -85.551944
  • Airport ID: KSRB

Aircraft Info

  • N Number: N242RE
  • Make: Mooney
  • Model: M20
  • Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
  • Amateur Built: No

Pilot Info

  • PIC Name: Braun, Jonathan Mark
  • Gender: Male
  • Pilot Age: 41
  • Pilot Hours:
  • Flight School: No
  • Instructional Flight: No
  • Pilot Certification: Private Pilot
  • IFR Rating: Yes
  • Pilot Error: Yes
  • Pilot Medical: 3rd Class Medical
  • Pilot Incapacitation: No

Analysis

  • Date: April 26th, 2025
  • Time: 11:45 AM Local Time
  • Day / Night: Day
  • VMC / IMC: VMC
  • Phase Of Flight: Approach
  • Total People Onboard: 3
  • PIC Fatality: 1
  • PAX Fatalities: 2
  • Ground Fatalities: 0
  • Total Fatalities: 3
  • NTSB No:
  • NTSB Travel: Unknown
  • AQP Classification: 23) OUT OF GAS, U-FIT

Probable Cause

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot ran out of fuel during his approach to runway 04 at Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB) runway 04 and did attempt to stretch his glide, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and spin. The entire wreckage was located in a very small circle located 1.45 miles short of runway 04. The weather at the time of the overcast was 2500 overcast, visibility 10. The crash site wreckage is now confirmed to be a very small area with a near vertical flight path, indicating a stall, spin impact. Local persons at the scene have reported no fire and no fuel odor in the wreckage, indicating an out of fuel glide. The flight had departed KSRB and had flown to KEET, where two persons were boarded. Airport personnel report that no fuel was added at this stop. The total straight line distance between the two airports was 367 nautical miles, and should have been possible if the accident pilot had left with full fuel tanks from KSRB. The fuel status at the time of departure is unknown at this time, but likely departed KSRB with 25 total gallons on board or less.

NTSB: NONE

Recommendation

DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft fly with sufficient fuel, well above the FAA minimum day VFR reserve of only 30 minutes. The DTSB recommends that a one hour reserve for all day VFR general aviation operators be adopted.

NTSB: NONE

DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.