Incident Overview
On August 2, 2015, at approximately 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna 206 airplane, registration N5033U, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The incident occurred while the aircraft was maneuvering near Pecos, Texas. The pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had originated from the Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ) about 0950.
Flight Sequence
The pilot reported completing a pre-flight inspection before taking off to participate in a cantaloupe bombing run associated with a fly-in at PEQ. After turning onto the left base leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost power. With limited options, the pilot executed a forced landing short of the airport, touching down in an area of small mesquite trees.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, horizontal tail, nose landing gear, propeller, and left wing. The extent of the damage rendered the airplane temporarily inoperable.
Investigation Findings
An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and determined that the fuel tanks were empty. Attempts to drain fuel from the wing and fuselage sumps yielded no fuel. The inspector noted that the fuel lines and fuel tanks were not compromised, indicating that the fuel loss was not due to a leak or rupture of the fuel system components.
Summary of Facts
The accident occurred during daylight hours in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed in terms of substantial damage but no fire ensued. The forced landing was necessitated by a loss of engine power, which the post-accident examination attributed to the absence of fuel in the tanks.