Flight History
The flight departed Manassas, Virginia, on an IFR flight plan to Memphis, Tennessee. Approximately 50 miles south of Manassas, the pilot reported unspecified mechanical trouble and landed in Charlottesville, Virginia. There, the pilot purchased 11 gallons of aviation fuel.
The flight then departed without a flight plan on file and later landed in McMinnville, Tennessee. The pilot purchased 30.8 gallons of fuel. The flight departed McMinnville without filing a flight plan.
Engine Problems Reported
After departure from McMinnville, the pilot contacted the Jackson, Tennessee, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) and reported engine problems. The pilot stated that the engine had begun running rough "some time back" after a previous stop. Just prior to the crash, the pilot reported that he had passed over numerous off-airport landing sites but that he now had few options remaining.
Findings
Following the accident, investigators found four five-gallon plastic containers onboard the aircraft. The containers had the odor of automotive fuel. A plastic fuel cap from one of the containers was found inside the right fuel cell. Fuel drained from the aircraft smelled and looked like old automotive fuel.