What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach into Evansville Dress Regional Airport when the aircraft's engine ceased operation without prior indication. At the time of the failure, the plane was descending from an altitude of approximately 300 feet. Recognizing that the airport runway was unreachable, the pilot executed a left turn to establish a final approach path toward a nearby warehouse parking area.
The aircraft touched down on the paved surface, but shortly after impact, it collided with a security fence located near the landing zone. The force of this collision caused the aircraft to flip over completely. Post-accident inspection revealed minimal fuel leakage from the airframe.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel system components following the crash. Draining the tanks revealed that the left tank contained approximately 1.5 gallons and the right tank held about 0.75 gallons. Further examination found roughly one ounce of fuel in the carburetor bowl and a similar amount in the fuel strainer.
The aircraft's fuel system has a total capacity of 42 gallons, with three gallons designated as unusable. Prior to the engine stoppage, the pilot reported that the right fuel indicator showed approximately three-quarters of a tank remaining, while the left indicator displayed an empty reading. These discrepancies between the indicators and the actual fuel quantities suggest a significant error in fuel management or instrument reliability.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the accident included the sudden loss of engine power during the final phase of flight and the subsequent inability to reach the intended airport. The pilot's decision to land in an unprepared area was necessitated by the altitude and distance constraints at the moment of failure. The impact with the security fence contributed to the rollover, though the minimal fuel spillage indicates no immediate fire hazard occurred post-crash.