What happened
The accident aircraft was prepared for departure at a local airport where the pilot relied on the fixed base operator (FBO) to refuel the plane. The pilot specifically instructed the FBO employee to "top off" the fuel tanks, assuming this would provide sufficient range for the intended flight.
Critically, the pilot did not perform a visual inspection of the fuel quantity in the wing tanks prior to starting the engines or during pre-flight checks. This omission meant that any discrepancy between the actual fuel load and the expected load went undetected before departure.
During the flight, the aircraft operated normally for an extended period. However, after two hours and fifteen minutes in the air, both engines simultaneously lost power due to fuel exhaustion. With no thrust available, the pilot was forced to execute an off-airport emergency landing. The aircraft sustained damage consistent with a hard landing or impact with terrain.
The investigation
Post-accident examination focused on the fuel system and the circumstances surrounding the departure. Investigators reviewed the pilot's statement regarding the refueling process. The key finding was the lack of independent verification of fuel quantity by the pilot, despite the standard safety practice of visually checking fuel levels through the wing tanks or dipsticks.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was fuel exhaustion. This condition resulted directly from the pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel was on board. By delegating the refueling task without verifying the result, the pilot allowed a critical safety check to be bypassed. The reliance on another person to confirm fuel quantity, rather than personal visual inspection, proved insufficient to prevent the depletion of usable fuel during the flight phase.