Accident Overview
During preparation for an air taxi and sightseeing flight, the pilot-in-command (PIC) conducted a preflight inspection of the aircraft. The inspection failed to identify that the right main fuel tank was nearly empty.
Sequence of Events
Approximately five minutes after takeoff, the fuel supply from the right main tank to the right engine was exhausted. The engine subsequently lost all power. The pilot first attempted to restart the engine, then attempted to feather the propeller. However, the engine did not windmill. Unable to sustain flight, the aircraft descended from its cruise altitude of 600 feet above ground level (AGL) and impacted terrain.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot's preflight inspection did not detect that the right main fuel tank was nearly empty. This oversight led to fuel exhaustion and power loss. No other causal factors were identified.