Preflight and Departure
Before the accident flight, a private certificated pilot added 14 gallons of fuel to the airplane from a 55-gallon drum stored at his cabin. During the preflight inspection, the pilot drained the fuel sumps and found no water contamination. After departure, the engine power began to decrease slowly. The pilot noted that the engine did not exhibit roughness or unusual sounds, but the revolutions per minute (rpm) dropped to approximately 2,200 and the airplane started losing altitude.
Attempted Return and Collision
When the airplane was about 200 feet above the ground, the pilot initiated a turn to the north in an effort to return to the runway. However, the airspeed continued to decrease. The airplane subsequently collided with numerous trees. The collision caused damage to the wings, lift struts, elevator, and the right main landing gear.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the pilot examined the fuel that had been placed in the airplane. He discovered that the fuel was diesel fuel, not gasoline. The pilot reported that his storage drum was mislabeled, leading to the fueling error.