What happened
The pilot departed from London, Ontario, with only 14 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot became disoriented and flew over Sarnia, mistakenly believing he was approaching Detroit. He later admitted that he waited too long to contact anyone for assistance. When he finally called Selfridge Approach and was being vectored toward Marine City, the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion. A forced landing was executed in a soft field, where the aircraft nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation confirmed that the pilot had departed with insufficient fuel for the intended flight plan. The disorientation led to navigation errors, causing the aircraft to fly past its intended destination. The delay in requesting help further reduced the available fuel margin.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were fuel exhaustion and pilot disorientation. The pilot's failure to recognize his position and timely request for assistance exacerbated the situation. The forced landing resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, though no injuries were reported.