Accident Overview
The airplane collided with power lines and touched down in a vineyard approximately 1 mile south of Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, California. The accident occurred during a forced landing precipitated by a loss of engine power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
Flight Details
The pilot conducted a preflight inspection, noting about 20 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 15 gallons in the right tank. The flight originated from Petaluma, California, and proceeded to Lakeport, California. On the return leg to Petaluma, the pilot was cruising at 5,500 feet and began a descent when abeam Santa Rosa. Well past Santa Rosa, the engine began to run rough, and the right fuel gauge indicated 5 to 7 gallons. The pilot switched from the right tank to the left tank, which indicated 10 to 15 gallons, after which the engine ran smoother. Continuing toward Petaluma at 3,000 feet, the pilot could not visually acquire the airport's rotating beacon. Despite attempting to activate the pilot-controlled runway lights, the airport remained unidentifiable. The pilot then decided to return to Sonoma County Airport. En route, the pilot experienced five cycles of power loss and restoration. The Air Traffic Control Tower advised that a vineyard was located south of the airport. Due to darkness, the pilot could not see the landing area but headed toward the dark field. The aircraft contacted power lines just prior to touchdown but came to rest upright in the vineyard.
Post-Accident Examination
The recovery agent noted no fuel in either tank. When fuel lines were disconnected during disassembly for transport, no fuel drained from them.