What happened
The flight originated from Herndon Regional Airport (KNHE) in Virginia. According to a surviving passenger, the aircraft departed with both fuel tanks indicating approximately one-quarter full. At 2113, the pilot contacted Herndon Tower to report an engine failure. The passenger observed that the only action taken by the pilot after the engine stopped was to pump the throttle several times. The aircraft subsequently crashed into Lake Barton, located approximately one-quarter mile from the approach end of Runway 25.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the fuel system revealed significant discrepancies between the initial indications and the actual fuel quantities remaining. The right tank contained only 1/2 gallon of 100LL fuel, while the left tank held 12 gallons. The fuel selector switch was found positioned on the left main tank, and the boost pump was discovered in the off position.
Findings
The investigation highlighted critical issues regarding fuel management and system configuration. The aircraft was operating with a fuel exhaustion scenario, exacerbated by the position of the fuel selector and the inactive state of the boost pump. The discrepancy between the initial fuel quantity reports and the final examination suggests a failure to monitor fuel levels accurately or a misunderstanding of the fuel system's actual capacity versus its indication.