Accident Details
An airplane that had been stored in a hangar for several weeks was flown by its pilot on the day of the accident. The pilot had previously flown the airplane for about 30 minutes one week prior, after which it was returned to the hangar. The morning of the accident, the pilot washed the airplane and placed it back in the hangar. That afternoon, the pilot removed the airplane from the hangar and departed from a private airstrip.
Sequence of Events
Witnesses at the airstrip could not confirm whether a preflight inspection was performed or fuel samples were taken. Several onlookers observed the airplane performing inside loops over the private airstrip, recovering at treetop level. During the third loop, when the airplane reached inverted flight, the engine lost power and the nose dropped. The airplane descended, impacted the ground, and was consumed by a post-crash fire.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel system was intact from the header tank to the injector nozzles. Water was found throughout the fuel system. No other anomalies were noted in the engine or airframe.