Night Cross-Country Flight Ends with Ditching in Lake After Engine Failure

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during a night cross-country flight, the first airport at which he landed did not have fuel available. He departed that airport for another airport that did have fuel. While en route, the engine spluttered and failed to restart after switching fuel tanks and attempting all emergency checklist procedures. The pilot ditched the airplane in a lake. The occupants egressed from the airplane and swam to shore without further incident.

Recovery and Examination

Upon recovery from the lake, the airplane had substantial damage to the fuselage. The assigned Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector reported that when airplane recovery personnel examined the aircraft after recovery, only one fuel tank contained fuel, approximately one quart. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.