What happened
During cruise flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power. In response, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on a street, which resulted in a collision with two moving automobiles. Prior to the accident, the pilot had completed approximately three or four glider tow flights. During the preflight inspection, the pilot noted that the fuel tank contained about a half tank of fuel, following a refueling event approximately one week earlier.
The investigation
An examination of the crash site was conducted to determine the state of the fuel system. Investigators found that the fuel tank had not been ruptured and no fuel was visible within the tank or on the pavement. However, the fuel gauge indicated that the tank was empty. During the inspection, 16 ounces of fuel were drained from the fuel tank and 6 ounces were drained from the gascolator.
Additionally, a police officer noted the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the pilot's breath. A blood alcohol test was administered 1 hour and 31 minutes after the accident. Analysis by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation revealed the pilot's alcohol concentration was 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of whole blood.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion during flight.
- The pilot's blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.08%, which exceeds the Federal Code of Regulations limit of 0.04% for crewmembers of a civil aircraft.