What happened
N89PB departed on a flight that ended in a crash shortly after leaving the ground. Both engines ceased producing power, forcing the pilot to execute an emergency wheels-up landing in an open field. The aircraft sustained catastrophic damage from the impact and was subsequently destroyed by fire.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and fuel records revealed that the aircraft had been refueled with Jet-A fuel rather than the required 100 low lead avgas. This error occurred because a lineman inadvertently used a Jet-A fuel truck. The two trucks were nearly identical in appearance, differing only by a decal approximately four feet by sixteen inches that identified the fuel type.
The lineman reported that his training was minimal, consisting of about thirty minutes reading the company maintenance manual followed by brief on-the-job instruction. On the day of the accident, he proceeded to the parking space where the avgas truck was normally stationed. However, on that specific occasion, the Jet-A truck had been parked in that spot instead.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the use of incorrect fuel due to operator error and inadequate training protocols. The lineman's reliance on visual identification of the truck, combined with the lack of distinct physical differences between the vehicles, led to the misfueling event.