What happened
The accident occurred while the pilot was conducting practice touch-and-go landings following an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. During this phase of operations, the airplane experienced a sudden loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude or reach the runway, the pilot executed an off-airport forced landing. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel revealed significant discrepancies in fuel management. The pilot reported that he had been operating the engine using the right fuel tank during the incident. Inspection confirmed that the right tank contained only 1 to 2 gallons of fuel, which was insufficient for continued flight operations.
In contrast, the left fuel tank was found to contain approximately 30 gallons of fuel, indicating that fuel was available but not being utilized by the engine. A subsequent engine run-up test conducted after the accident did not reveal any mechanical deficiencies or anomalies that would explain the power loss under normal fuel conditions.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the pilot's failure to monitor fuel quantity and select the appropriate tank, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Although the left tank held ample fuel, the engine was drawing from the nearly empty right tank. This mismanagement of fuel sources during a high-workload phase of flight (touch-and-go practice) led directly to the power loss and subsequent forced landing.
Safety message
Pilots must rigorously monitor fuel quantity in all tanks and ensure the correct tank is selected for engine feed, especially during complex maneuvers or when transitioning between flight phases. Relying on a single tank without verifying its contents can lead to fuel exhaustion even when total fuel reserves appear adequate.