Accident Overview
On January 16, 2016, at 1110 central standard time, a Beech A23, N3680Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near the Riley Creek Airport (12TN), Kingston, Tennessee. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported near the accident site at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from 12TN at 1015.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, two weeks before the accident, he replaced the O-rings on the fuel caps and drained all fuel from the left fuel tank to clear debris from the left wing sump valve. He then poured the drained fuel into the right wing tank, bringing its quantity to approximately 28 gallons. He added about 1.5 gallons of remaining fuel into the left tank and sampled both tanks for water and contamination. The airplane was then tied down and covered with a tarp.
On the accident day, the pilot returned to the airport. He did not recall verifying fuel levels before the flight. He performed a preflight inspection, started the engine, and taxied around the ramp to clean mud and debris from the tires while warming up. After takeoff, he flew for about 45 minutes before returning to the airport. After landing, he taxied a few more times before departing again. Approximately 10 minutes into the second flight, as he flew over the airport to check wind direction, the engine stopped. He attempted troubleshooting and an unsuccessful restart, but did not move the fuel selector from the right tank to the left, believing it contained only 1 to 1.5 gallons. He performed an emergency off-field landing.
Examination Findings
Initial examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left wing had separated from the wing root. The empennage separated from the main cabin, and the firewall was buckled. The fuel tanks were not breached. The fuel selector was found on the right fuel tank, which contained no fuel. Examination of the left fuel tank showed approximately 7 gallons of fuel after draining. A cursory engine examination confirmed valve train continuity, magnetos produced spark, and fuel flow was present to the fuel flow divider and fuel injectors. An engine run was attempted unsuccessfully.
During a telephone call with the FAA inspector, the pilot mentioned he felt fuel may have been stolen from his airplane before the accident.