Accident Overview
The pilot of a recently purchased airplane was ferrying it from Deland, Florida, to Southeast Greensboro Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. En route, he planned a fuel stop at Siler City Municipal Airport in Siler City, North Carolina. While approaching the airport at an altitude of approximately 5,500 feet, the engine ceased operating. The pilot reported that the propeller continued to windmill and that the engine did not run rough or sputter before stopping. Several restart attempts were unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently crashed about one mile short of the approach end of runway 04 at Siler City Municipal Airport.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. He noted that the fuel tanks were topped off before departure from Deland, providing 55 gallons of usable fuel. During the flight, he monitored his progress using a Global Positioning System receiver and relied on fuel consumption information provided by the previous owner. Based on this data, he decided to cancel a scheduled backup fuel stop at Walterboro, South Carolina. Additionally, the pilot mentioned that at some point during the flight, FAA Fayetteville Approach Control had given him a deviation to avoid weather.
Post-Crash Examination
An FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene reported finding little or no fuel during the post-crash examination. An FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic from Airways Inc. in Climax, North Carolina, who assisted at the scene, stated that a total of 0.877 gallons of fuel was recovered from the airplane.