Accident Summary
A Navion A airplane was involved in an accident after its engine lost power during a flight from Jaffrey, New Hampshire, to Mansfield, Massachusetts. The pilot had conducted a preflight inspection, confirming 20 gallons of fuel in each of the left and right main tanks but did not check the 20-gallon auxiliary tank. The flight originated from Mansfield, Massachusetts, covering a minimum of 69 statute miles to Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where the pilot landed. After an unspecified period, the pilot departed Jaffrey without refueling and flew for approximately two additional hours before landing again at Jaffrey. Without shutting down the engine, the pilot departed once more for Mansfield.
Shortly after departure and leveling off at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to return to the departure airport and deemed the intended landing site unsuitable, subsequently executing a forced landing into tree tops.
Investigation Findings
A post-crash examination conducted by an FAA inspector revealed no fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks and no evidence of fuel leakage. The pilot stated that the power setting chosen, the duration of the flight, and negligence in visually checking fuel levels—relying instead on fuel gauge readings—led to the exhaustion of fuel. The pilot attributed the accident to his own mistake in managing the fuel supply.