Incident Overview
A pilot flying an aircraft on an identical route to one flown recently decided not to make an intermediate fuel stop. The decision was based on the recollection that during the previous trip, despite encountering heavy headwinds, he still had 14 gallons of fuel remaining when he refueled at Naples Municipal Airport. He reasoned that the current flight's fuel requirements would similarly allow him to bypass refueling.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, the pilot overflew Naples Municipal Airport and nearby Everglades Airpark without stopping for fuel. Subsequently, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) provided the pilot with immediate vectors toward Everglades Airpark. However, the aircraft's glide was approximately 6 miles short of the airport. The aircraft crashed into mangrove trees within Everglades National Park.
Pilot Interview
In a postcrash interview, the pilot explained his rationale for not making an intermediate fuel stop. He cited his experience on a recent, identical trip where he had 14 gallons of fuel remaining when he refueled at Naples Municipal Airport, despite encountering strong headwinds. He believed that similar fuel reserves would be available on this flight, making a fuel stop unnecessary.