What happened
The aircraft departed Akron, New York, at 1154 Eastern Standard Time on a flight destined for Charlotte, North Carolina. As the afternoon progressed and the sun began to set, one of the passengers, who was the pilot's daughter, noticed that the fuel reserves were becoming critically low. She informed the pilot of the situation.
In response to the warning, the pilot initiated a diversion toward a nearby airport. However, before the aircraft could arrive at the intended destination, the engine lost power. The aircraft subsequently crashed while the crew attempted an emergency landing.
The investigation
A thorough examination of the fuel system revealed no evidence of a fuel leak or mechanical failure within the plumbing. The engine was also inspected and showed no preexisting malfunctions that would have contributed to the power loss.
Records indicated that the aircraft had been serviced with a full load of fuel, utilizing its 50-gallon capacity, prior to takeoff. The flight lasted for 5 hours and 24 minutes before the crash occurred. Performance charts for this specific airframe demonstrated that it could cruise for approximately 5 hours at 75% power or about 6.8 hours at 55% power.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was fuel exhaustion. The aircraft had been operated for a duration that exceeded its safe fuel endurance at the power settings used, despite starting with a full tank. The lack of a fuel leak and the absence of engine malfunction confirmed that the loss of power was due to depletion rather than mechanical failure.
Safety message
Pilots must carefully calculate fuel requirements against performance charts for specific power settings. Relying on nominal endurance figures without accounting for actual cruise power, wind conditions, or reserve margins can lead to fuel exhaustion. Always ensure sufficient fuel reserves are maintained well before the planned destination.