Accident Details
The airplane crashed about two miles short of the destination airport. Witnesses reported that the aircraft impacted nose down after clearing trees, and no engine sounds were heard. According to rescue personnel, the pilot indicated that there were no engine or other mechanical failures; instead, he stated he had a problem with fuel. The personnel noted that they did not smell any fuel odor or observe any fuel spillage at the scene.
Examination Findings
Examination of the aircraft revealed only trace amounts of fuel in the aircraft fuel system. No evidence of fuel contamination or mechanical malfunction was found.
Fuel History
The pilot had departed the airport earlier in the day with approximately 64 gallons of fuel on board. Total fuel capacity is 89 gallons. No evidence was found to indicate that additional fuel was obtained during subsequent stops.
Performance Data
Interpolation of aircraft performance charts revealed that the airplane had an expected endurance of about 4.7 hours at 65% power, with 64 gallons of usable fuel. The actual elapsed flight time since refueling was about 5 hours, based on tach time.