Accident Summary
A training flight ended with substantial damage after the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The airplane struck trees and terrain and came to rest inverted. No mechanical anomalies were reported, and the wreckage examination revealed minimal fuel in the tanks.
Sequence of Events
The flight instructor and pilot-rated student both believed the airplane had been fueled after being pulled from the hangar by line personnel. They observed a fuel truck near the airplane prior to departure. The student performed the preflight inspection and interpreted the fuel sight gauges as indicating full fuel, but did not visually check the fuel in the tanks. When the instructor arrived, he asked about fuel quantity, and the student reported the tanks were full.
The flight departed from Lynchburg, Virginia, and conducted several takeoffs and landings at a nearby airport. Approximately one hour into the flight, while at an altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The instructor began turning toward a nearby pasture, at which point the engine regained power. He then chose to continue the turn and head toward the nearest airport. Shortly after, the engine lost all power again. Unable to glide to the pasture, the instructor flew straight ahead and allowed the airplane to settle into the trees.
Pilot Actions
Upon the first power loss, the instructor initiated a turn toward a pasture. After power returned, he opted to proceed toward an airport. When power was lost a second time, recognizing the inability to reach the pasture, he directed the aircraft straight ahead into trees. Neither pilot reported any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe or engine.
Examination Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. Substantial damage was found to the wings and fuselage. Approximately one pint of fuel was recovered from each fuel tank, indicating severe fuel exhaustion.
Post-Accident Changes
Following the accident, the flight school held safety briefings with instructors, faculty, and students. These sessions covered the circumstances of the accident and introduced policy changes. New procedures included clarified preflight and postflight responsibilities for students and instructors, revised fuel level measuring methods, and mandatory dispatch records of fuel status. These changes applied to all aircraft types and operations at the school and were codified in the Flight Operations Manual.