Accident Overview
The flight departed Du Bois, Pennsylvania, with an intended destination of Zeeland, Michigan. The pilot planned a refueling stop at Henry County Airport in Napoleon, Ohio; however, the airport was closed. The pilot then decided to continue to Hillsdale Airport in Hillsdale, Michigan, with an estimated 19 to 20 gallons of fuel remaining.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, the pilot advised Toledo Approach Control of the need to divert to Hillsdale Airport for fuel. While on a downwind leg for runway 27, approximately one to two miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The airplane subsequently struck trees during an attempt to land on runway 27.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank contained no fuel. The left fuel tank held approximately three quarts of fuel. Further inspection of the fuel tanks disclosed that all eight retaining clips on both fuel cells had become dislodged. The right fuel cell retained its shape fairly well, but the left fuel cell was found collapsed.