Incident Overview
Approximately 40 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, the engine ceased operating abruptly and without warning. The pilot performed emergency procedures but was unable to restore engine power, necessitating a forced landing at the edge of a wooded area.
Witness Account
A witness in a parking lot observed the airplane and reported hearing the engine "cutting on and off" and the aircraft "waving" back and forth before it crashed.
Pilot Statement
A detective from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office stated that the pilot told him he had run out of fuel and attempted to land in an open field, but ended up crashing on the bank of a private pond.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene reported that the airplane's right wing had been destroyed, along with its associated fuel tank due to impact forces. The left wing remained intact, and its fuel tank was found to be nearly full of fuel. Examination of the fuel lines from the gascolator to the fuel pump and from the fuel pump to the carburetor revealed no evidence of fuel.
The NTSB conducted an operational test of the engine at Atlanta Air Salvage in Griffin, Georgia. The engine functioned without issue, exhibiting no evidence of a preaccident failure or malfunction. Additionally, a detailed examination and test of the airplane's carburetor revealed no anomalies.
Conclusion
The source does not provide a stated probable cause for the accident.