Accident Overview
The aircraft lost engine power and collided with terrain during the forced landing. Prior to the second flight of the day, the pilot refueled the right wing with approximately 8 gallons of fuel, bringing the total fuel load to about 20 or 21 gallons. The operator of the skydiving operation had instructed pilots to fuel to 21 gallons for a load of 3 or 4 people, and to 19 gallons for a load of 2 people. The accident flight carried the pilot and three individuals: a videographer, a tandem jumper, and a tandem instructor.
Fueling and Flight Details
A videographer initially told an FAA inspector that he witnessed the pilot refuel and "stick" the fuel tanks before departure, but later recanted, stating he only saw the "stick" check and not the fueling. After deploying the jumpers, the pilot began a descent with a right turn, setting power to 16 inches of manifold pressure and propeller to 2,250 rpm.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
The airplane subsequently experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field. During the landing attempt, the aircraft struck a set of transmission wires before impacting terrain and nosing over. Due to a concussion sustained in the accident, the pilot had no recollection of the flight for approximately 7 to 10 minutes immediately prior to the crash.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found the right wing contained approximately 1 to 3 gallons of fuel, while the left wing contained about 5 to 7 gallons. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were full forward; carburetor heat was fully on; and the fuel selector was positioned to BOTH. A salvage company recovered the airplane four days after the accident and reported draining about 5 gallons from the left fuel tank, while the right tank was empty. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.