Incident Details
During a touch and go landing at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine lost power. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) check pilot, who was on board, took control of the airplane and executed a landing on the remaining runway. However, the aircraft overran the end of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tanks were intact and the fuel caps were secure. Despite this, no fuel was found in the fuel tanks, fuel sumps, or fuel lines extending from the tanks to the emergency shutoff valve. Additionally, there was no evidence of a fuel spill reported by either the State Police or the FAA.
Pilot Interview and Logbook Review
During a subsequent interview with the FAA, the pilot stated that he believed he had flown approximately 3.5 hours since his last refueling. However, a review of the pilot's logbooks indicated that he had actually flown 4.2 hours. When the FAA confronted the pilot with this discrepancy, he acknowledged that he had run out of fuel.