Event Narrative
According to a passenger, the flight departed St Simons Island, Georgia at approximately 10:00 am en route to Nashville, Tennessee for a fuel stop, with a final destination of Chicago, Illinois. The passenger reported that the aircraft encountered storm trouble in Georgia and took a detour. While the pilot was flying on autopilot, the passenger noticed the engine lost power. The pilot took control and radioed about engine problems, requesting the nearest airport. The person on the radio could not see the aircraft on radar but stated the closest airport was three to five miles away; the pilot responded they could not make that distance. The pilot then stated intention to land in a field. The passenger reported the aircraft circled the field about twice before flying straight into a wooded area.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the right wing revealed it remained attached to the fuselage and was angled up about 35 degrees, supported by tree branches. The right wing fuel tanks were breached and contained no fuel. The left main and auxiliary fuel tanks were intact, holding approximately 13 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector was positioned on the right tank. The investigation found nothing that would have prevented the engine from producing power prior to impact.