Accident Details
The accident occurred during a 12-minute repositioning flight between nearby airports at night. While on short final, the engine lost power and the airplane collided with a house. Witnesses reported the engine sound was quiet before the airplane struck trees, power lines, and the house. The airplane came to rest inverted in the backyard of a residence.
Fuel System Examination
The airplane had been refueled with 40 gallons prior to the accident flight, and the total flight time since that refueling was 2.1 hours tachometer time. The owner estimated the tanks were near empty when the fuel was added. Fuel calculations based on the Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook indicated that approximately 30 gallons would have been used during that period. At the accident site, the right fuel tank was intact and contained about 8 ounces of fuel. The left fuel tank was breached; approximately 1 gallon was drained when the tank was moved for recovery, and a strong odor of fuel was present in the soil beneath the left wing. The fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank. Before departure, the fuel gauges indicated about 1/4 tank. The fuel line from the fuel pump to the engine was removed and a residual amount of fuel drained out.
Aircraft and Engine Condition
No control or operational anomalies were noted with the airplane, and the engine was test-run successfully following the accident.
Background and Sequence of Events
The pilot was to reposition the airplane over the previous days leading up to the accident, and the owner had expressed disapproval that this had not been done. On the day of the accident, the pilot had flown a twin-engine Cessna earlier. That evening, the pilot was delayed waiting for a ferry pilot to arrive to fly him to pick up the accident airplane. The certified flight instructor who flew the accident pilot to the airplane reported that immediately after dropping the pilot, he began his return. The accident airplane was two airplanes behind the CFI during landing. As the CFI was taxiing to parking, he saw a flash of fire in the direction of the accident site. Besides the accident airplane, two other airplanes were for sale at the owner's facility; one of these was the same make and model as the accident airplane. About two weeks prior to the accident, the owner and the accident pilot refueled these two airplanes, but the accident airplane was not refueled.