Incident Overview
An aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 31,000 feet when the low pressure fuel filter warning light illuminated in the cockpit. In response, the pilot initiated a diversion toward Columbia, Missouri. However, before reaching the destination, both engines lost power, leading to a crash approximately two miles east of the airport.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination determined that the fuel supply was contaminated with water. The fuel filter deicing system was found to be operational, but the deicing tank was empty. This was the second flight conducted since the deice tank had been serviced. According to manufacturer specifications, the supply tank should have provided approximately three to four hours of filter deicing operation.
Fuel Filter Deicing System
The fuel filter deicing system is designed to prevent ice formation in the fuel filters, which can occur when water is present in the fuel. The system relies on a dedicated tank containing deicing fluid. In this incident, the tank was empty despite having been serviced prior to the previous flight. The exact reason for the empty tank has not been disclosed, but the manufacturer's stated endurance of the supply tank was three to four hours of continuous operation.