Accident Overview
The airplane collided with trees and terrain while executing a forced landing following its departure from Runway 15. The aircraft's landing gear and flaps were in the retracted position at the time of impact. No fire occurred after the accident.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses observed the airplane traveling eastward at a very low altitude, flying parallel to Beltline Road. Two witnesses noted that the airplane appeared to be gliding, and they were unable to hear the engine. They also could not determine whether the propeller was rotating.
Aircraft Examination
The airplane had last been refueled on December 20, 2002, with 24.8 gallons of 100LL fuel. Examination of the right fuel system revealed three gallons of fuel in the tip tanks and twelve gallons in the auxiliary fuel tank. The left main fuel cell was breached. The fuel selector was found positioned to the right main tank. Flight control continuity was confirmed, and no anomalies were detected in the airframe at the accident site.
Engine Run
The engine was successfully run to full power during post-accident testing.