Accident Details
A pipeline patrol airplane, operating in normal cruise configuration, impacted the desert floor in a 20-degree nose-down attitude approximately 200 feet west of the pipeline it was patrolling. The impact was followed by a post-impact fire that originated in the rear of the cabin and subsequently destroyed the cockpit and cabin areas.
Wreckage Examination
A locally manufactured 36-gallon auxiliary fuel tank, which had been bolted to the baggage compartment floor, was found separated from the main wreckage, located 69 feet from the main wreckage. Examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies with the powerplant, flight controls, or airframe.
Additional Observations
The post-impact fire consumed the cockpit and cabin, leaving the aircraft extensively damaged. The auxiliary fuel tank's separation and distance from the main wreckage were noted during the investigation.