Incident Overview
Approximately 45 minutes after departing Greenville Airport for a local practice flight, both engines of the aircraft failed at the same time. The aircraft lost altitude and subsequently crashed in an uninhabited area. The sole passenger was killed in the accident, and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot had recently purchased the aircraft and was not familiar with its systems.
Investigation Findings
According to official investigators, the probable cause of the accident was that both engines stopped in flight due to fuel starvation. Several contributing factors were identified during the investigation:
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft.
- Mismanagement of the fuel system.
- Inattentiveness to the fuel supply.
- Fuel starvation leading to the failure of both engines.
- The aircraft had not been refueled since its purchase.
- Both engines had been operating from the right main fuel tank, which likely led to fuel exhaustion.
Aftermath
The crash occurred in an unpopulated area, preventing any additional injuries on the ground. Emergency services responded to the scene. The pilot was transported to a medical facility for treatment of serious injuries.