Accident Overview
On August 18, 2022, at 1035 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 195, N1097D, sustained substantial damage during an accident near El Cajon, California. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Maintenance and Fuel
The pilot reported that the airplane had recently undergone maintenance. The mechanic who performed the maintenance stated that he removed the right wing as part of a repair and drained all fuel from both wings to re-seal the fuel sending units. According to the pilot, the mechanic told him that after completing the maintenance, he added about seven gallons of fuel to each tank. The pilot did not add any additional fuel before the flight.
Flight and Emergency
The accident flight was the first flight after maintenance. The pilot intended to depart from Gillespie Field in San Diego, California, and stay in the traffic pattern. The airplane departed runway 27R at 1023. At 1033, the pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control, stating that he had experienced a full electrical failure. While maneuvering back toward the runway, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success.
Landing and Recovery
The pilot performed an off-airport landing on a freeway, and the airplane came to rest adjacent to an on-ramp, approximately three miles short of the runway. Recovery personnel reported that they recovered about 3 to 3.5 gallons of fuel at the accident site. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that there was no fuel leakage at the accident site.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that although he checked the quantity on the fuel gauges, they were erroneous. He did not verify the actual fuel quantity through a visual inspection. He also reported that he believed the mechanic had stolen the fuel and did not add it back to the wing tanks. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.