Incident
On September 9, 2000, at 11:00 local time, a Maule M5-235-C (registration EC-ENV) departed from runway 12 at Mutxamel Aerodrome in Alicante, Spain. The aircraft, typically used for banner towing, was flying without a banner to Alicante Airport to refuel, as fuel at Mutxamel was only available to aeroclub members.
Shortly after takeoff, during an initial climb turn, the engine began to misfire and lost nearly all power. The pilot chose to land in a clear field, which appeared free of obstacles. The landing was normal, but near the end of the landing roll, the aircraft encountered an irrigation ditch, causing it to nose over.
Aircraft and Flight
The aircraft was a 1976 Maule M5-235-C, category/weight less than 2250 kg, powered by one Lycoming O-540-J1A5D engine. The pilot held a commercial license, was 31 years old, and had 281 total flight hours. There was one passenger on board; both occupants were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken left main landing gear leg and general structural damage from the nose-over.
Investigation
Since the incident occurred near the aerodrome, immediate checks were possible. No fuel spill was found on the ground. The fuel tanks were inspected and found to be completely empty.
Conclusion
The most probable cause of the incident was engine failure due to lack of fuel. The lack of fuel was attributed to the aircraft having taken off with tanks practically empty, as there was no evidence of fuel spillage on the ground or loss during the short flight. The available evidence suggests the pilot did not check the amount of fuel on board before the flight.