What happened
The flight was conducting an aerial photography mission when deteriorating weather conditions necessitated a change of plans. Due to heavy cloud cover, the crew decided to return to the departure airport. While en route back to the airfield, the engine quit before the aircraft could reach the runway. The aircraft subsequently collided with terrain and sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Following the accident, an examination of the fuel tanks was conducted to determine the cause of the engine failure. The inspection revealed that the left tank contained 5 gallons of fuel, while the right tank held approximately 2 gallons.
Findings
The available evidence indicates that the aircraft ran out of usable fuel during the return flight. The low fuel quantities found in both tanks at the time of impact suggest that the engine ceased operation due to fuel exhaustion. This loss of power prevented the crew from completing the approach and landing, leading to the collision with terrain.
Safety message
Pilots conducting aerial photography missions should carefully monitor fuel consumption and weather conditions. Adequate fuel reserves must be maintained to allow for safe returns to the departure airport or diversion to alternate fields, especially when weather deteriorates unexpectedly.