Accident Overview
On February 28, 2022, about 1253 central standard time, a Cessna 208B airplane, registration N108RF, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Campbellton, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation mission.
Flight Details
The pilot reported beginning the day at San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI) and flying east toward Houston for a survey, lasting about 1 hour 10 minutes. He then flew 1 hour southeast and started a second survey. After approximately 3 hours of total flight time, he proceeded to Pleasanton Municipal Airport (PEZ) to refuel. During the descent, the “left fuel low” light illuminated, followed shortly by the “reservoir fuel low” light. The pilot verified that the fuel tanks, fuel pump, and igniters were active and diverted to a nearby private airstrip. Soon after, the engine began losing power. Despite increasing the throttle, the engine lost total power. The airplane descended rapidly, struck several trees, and touched down on an upsloping field short of the runway. The right wing spar sustained substantial damage.
Fuel Status and Examination
The pilot stated that he last refueled the airplane the day before the accident at Ozona Municipal Airport (OZA). He then flew a little over 1 hour to HYI to prepare for the accident flight. When asked if the airplane ran out of fuel, the pilot replied, “no, I should have had more fuel.”
An on-scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that when the electrical system was turned on, the “LT fuel low,” “RT fuel low,” and “reservoir fuel low” lights illuminated. The left and right fuel gauges indicated empty. Both the left and right fuel tanks were sumped, and no fuel was noted. Approximately 2 cups of fuel were drained from the reservoir tank, and a couple of ounces were drained from the fuel strainer.
Post-Accident Operations
The operator reported that after the airplane was repaired, fuel was added to both the left and right fuel tanks. The engine started and operated normally with no anomalies noted.
ATC Communication
According to an Air Traffic Mandatory Occurrence Report, the pilot declared a mayday and attempted to divert to an airport. After landing in the field, the pilot contacted air traffic control and reported that he “lost track of fuel and ran out.”