On June 29, 2019, a PIPER PA24 250 operated by Claene Corp was involved in an aviation accident near Brunswick, GA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly lean the fuel mixture in flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a subsequent total loss of engine power, and a forced landing with the landing gear retracted. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot who forgot to lean the mixture during a flight experienced higher fuel consumption and subsequent engine power loss, resulting in a forced landing with gear retracted in a marsh and substantial wing damage.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a flight, he forgot to lean the mixture, causing the airplane to consume approximately 20 gallons of fuel per hour instead of the 15 gallons per hour he had planned. As a result, he decided to land at the next airport to refuel. However, before reaching the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.
Landing and Damage
The pilot executed a landing with the landing gear retracted in a marsh. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot noted that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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