Incident Overview
An aviation accident occurred involving a flight from Madison, Connecticut, to Fredericksburg, Virginia. The pilot reported that prior to departure, a visual inspection of the fuel tanks indicated the right tank was full, while the left tank was two to three gallons short of capacity. The aircraft departed at approximately 1421 EDT with the fuel selector positioned in the BOTH setting.
Flight Operations and Fuel Management
During the en-route phase of the flight, the pilot alternated between the left and right fuel tanks. According to the pilot's statement, the left tank was selected for approximately 93 minutes, while the right tank was used for 74 minutes. As the aircraft began its descent toward the destination airport, the pilot kept the fuel selector engaged on the left tank.
Accident Sequence and Findings
During the descent, the engine lost power, prompting the pilot to execute a forced landing in a nearby field. Subsequent examination of the aircraft revealed that six to eight gallons of fuel remained in the right tank at the time of the accident. The pilot noted that the incident could have been avoided if the emergency checklist had been utilized during the descent phase.