What happened
While en route from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Chamblee, Georgia, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. At the time of the power loss, the pilot reported having 18 gallons of fuel in the right tank and more than 25 gallons in the left tank. The pilot attempted to switch the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank and contacted the UNICOM frequency to request assistance finding an airport due to low fuel. Another aircraft provided vectors toward the Greenwood airport.
The pilot's final radio transmission was: "I'm over a four-lane highway…no more fuel." The pilot later noted that he should have reported the engine loss rather than stating he had no more fuel.
During the forced landing, the airplane struck two utility poles and two power lines. The aircraft came to rest on its right side with the left wing in a near-vertical position. A power line penetrated the left wing, breaching the left fuel tank. The impact caused the right wing to separate from the fuselage and ruptured its fuel tank, which ignited a fire. Witnesses observed fluid leaking from the left wing into the engine compartment, noting that the fire flared up whenever the fluid contacted the engine.
The investigation
Investigation of the fuel levels revealed that although the pilot reported low fuel during the emergency, the remaining fuel was sufficient to complete the flight. The pilot had prepared for the flight with 80 gallons of total fuel (adding 15 gallons to the 25+ gallons already in each tank). Based on a consumption rate of 20 gallons per hour at 75 percent power, the 2.2-hour flight should have consumed approximately 44 gallons, leaving adequate reserves. When the aircraft was uprighted the following day, less than 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the left tank.
Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot had 10 hours of experience in this specific make and model.