Accident Overview
During a flight, a fuel leak was discovered after takeoff. The certified flight instructor (CFI) at the controls continued to overfly one airport and attempted to land at the intended destination airport. As the fuel supply diminished, the engine began to run intermittently. The aircraft ultimately landed short of the runway in winds of 20 knots.
Flight Sequence
Following departure, fuel was observed leaking from the aircraft. Despite this, the CFI did not land at a nearby airport and instead proceeded toward the destination. The fuel supply became depleted, causing the engine to run intermittently before the airplane touched down short of the runway.
Post-Accident Findings
The pilot-in-command reported that a post-accident inspection revealed the right fuel tank cap was cross-threaded, leaving a one-half inch gap between the cap and the wing. This condition likely allowed fuel to escape during flight.