What happened
Prior to commencing a banner tow flight, the pilot verified that both fuel tanks were full and the fuel selector was set to the correct tank position. After approximately one hour of flight time, the pilot noted that the right fuel tank level had decreased to between one-half and one-quarter full but determined it was too early to switch tanks.
As the flight continued, the pilot became preoccupied with flight activities and did not perform further fuel checks. At an altitude of 1,000 feet AGL and 1.9 hours into the flight, the engine lost power. Following two unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing into an open area.
Upon impact with the ground, the aircraft bounced once and flipped over, coming to rest in an inverted position. The banner was not released during the course of the forced landing.
Findings
- The pilot failed to monitor fuel levels after the initial observation of decreasing fuel in the right tank.
- The engine experienced a loss of power during the flight.