What happened
The flight departed from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, at 20:18 CST on February 17, 1985. Prior to the accident sequence, the pilot completed two instrument approach procedures for practice purposes. The aircraft was conducting a touch-and-go landing when it lost power during the initial climb phase. The exact amount of fuel loaded into the aircraft prior to this flight is unknown, though the total usable fuel capacity is 57.2 gallons.
The investigation
Mechanical examination of the engine, fuel injector assembly, and fuel flow divider revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction. However, inspection of the wreckage showed that the fuel injector lines had been loosened and were found dry before recovery. Draining the right tank yielded only a few ounces of fuel, while approximately 12 gallons remained in the left tank.
Findings
Records from the operator indicated that the fuel quantity gauges had been inoperative for approximately three months prior to the incident. The aircraft had flown approximately two-sevenths of an hour before the accident flight began. The last recorded fueling occurred on February 17, 1985. The combination of fuel exhaustion and unreliable instrumentation prevented accurate fuel management during the flight.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that fuel quantity indicators are operational prior to flight. Relying on visual checks or estimated consumption when gauges fail significantly increases the risk of fuel starvation, particularly during high-demand phases of flight such as climbs.