Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot had recently purchased the amphibious aircraft and had received 6.7 hours of dual instruction, after which he was endorsed for solo flight.
Flight Details
The cross-country flight began in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The pilot landed in Richmond, Kentucky, where he purchased 23.8 gallons of fuel. On the subsequent leg to Lafayette, Indiana, he made several heading and altitude changes to avoid weather. During that leg, he recalculated fuel consumption and estimated that sufficient fuel remained to continue to Warsaw, Indiana. Upon landing at Lafayette, the pilot performed a minor repair and then took off without refueling.
Emergency Landing
While en route to Warsaw, the engine lost power. The pilot restarted the engine, but it ran for only two to three seconds and could not be restarted. He initiated an emergency wheels-up landing in a wheat field. While approaching, he observed a power line and lacked sufficient speed to fly over it. As he flew under the wires, the floats struck a bank, and the aircraft crashed.
Post-Crash Findings
No fuel was found in the fuel tanks. Investigators discovered gasket material in a fuel screen. However, when the engine was later run with the material still in the screen, it operated normally.
Fuel Consumption
Approximately 145 gallons of fuel had been used during the 8.2 hours of flight, which included many landings.