Incident Overview
A flying club airplane departed on a night cross-country flight under visual meteorological conditions. During the flight, the pilot observed the lights dimming and static on the radios. He decided to return to the departure airport. While en route, the lights dimmed further, and the electrically powered landing gear could not be extended.
Fuel Management and Power Loss
The fuel selector was positioned on the right tip tank. As the pilot made a steep left turn from base to final, the engine experienced a power loss. According to the airplane flight manual, use of the tip tanks was restricted to level flight.
Forced Landing and Aftermath
The pilot conducted a gear-up forced landing on a residential street. A small post-crash fire developed but was quickly extinguished. Post-crash examination revealed that the alternator switch was off. Testing of the alternator and battery showed no problems.
Pilot Qualifications
The pilot had not been checked out in the airplane and was not authorized by the flying club to operate it. Additionally, he was unfamiliar with the emergency landing gear extension procedures for that airplane.