Accident Overview
An airplane sustained a total loss of engine power during a return flight, leading to a forced landing that ended with the aircraft colliding with a ravine. The pilot had not performed any preflight or en route fuel calculations for the flight, according to the investigation.
Flight Sequence
The pilot initially departed from an airport, then landed at another airport to pick up a passenger. While returning to the initial departure airport, the engine lost all power. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing, during which the airplane collided with a ravine.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident examination of the fuel tanks revealed only residual fuel remaining. An FAA operations inspector calculated that the aircraft had an endurance of 4.5 hours possible. The total elapsed tachometer time recorded was 5.0 hours. In a post-crash interview, the pilot stated that he ran out of fuel.
Analysis
The investigation found that the pilot did not perform any preflight or en route fuel calculations. The available fuel endurance was exceeded by the actual flight time, resulting in fuel exhaustion. The subsequent forced landing was unsuccessful, leading to a collision with terrain.