What happened
During a flight following a 130-mile round trip over a snow-covered river, a pilot was maneuvering near his destination airport while awaiting special VFR clearance. The aircraft was cruising at approximately 500 feet above ground level when the pilot began circling roughly 6 to 7 miles east of the airfield. At the time, the local weather featured a 1,000-foot ceiling and visibility of approximately one mile.
After obtaining the necessary clearance, the pilot proceeded toward the airport, but the engine began experiencing fluctuations in fuel pressure. This was accompanied by a decrease in engine RPM and a loss of altitude. In response to the deteriorating engine performance, the pilot transitioned from the left fuel tank to the right tank, extended full flaps, and prepared for an emergency forced landing. The pilot noted that visibility had degraded to near white-out conditions, though the riverbank remained visible.
Following the switch to the right fuel tank, the engine power unexpectedly returned to its full setting. As the pilot applied forward pressure to the flight controls to manage the sudden increase in lift and prevent an uncontrolled climb, the aircraft struck the surface of the frozen river. The impact resulted in structural damage to the wings and fuselage.
Findings
- The pilot was operating under weather conditions characterized by a 600-foot obscured ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility in snow at the destination.
- The engine power returned to full power immediately after switching fuel tanks, which led to the pilot's attempt to manage the climb, resulting in the river impact.
- Neither the FAA nor the NTSB verified the mechanical state of the engine or the specific fuel levels at the time of the accident.