What happened
During a trans-Pacific ferry flight, the crew encountered significant difficulties with a specialized ferry fuel tank system. The aircraft was carrying 1,18-9 gallons of additional fuel for the journey. Approximately four hours into the flight, the crew notified air traffic control of a malfunction regarding fuel transfer. While the aircraft still possessed roughly 10 hours of total fuel, the crew reported that they could only access approximately 2 hours of that supply, prompting them to declare an emergency and consider returning to land.
Satellite tracking indicated that the aircraft turned back toward the California coast when it was roughly 356 miles from the shoreline. As the plane reached a distance of 132 miles from the coast, its altitude began to drop, descending from 4,000 feet to approximately 240 feet above mean sea level. The final recorded tracking point placed the aircraft 33 miles from the California coast.
Upon arrival at the scene, the United States Coast Guard discovered the fuselage upside down in the ocean. The wings and engines had become detached from the main body of the aircraft. Although the crew remained strapped into their seats, they were unresponsive, and no occupants were recovered from the site. Subsequent searches located the nose landing gear, the right engine, and the right wing, while a fuel bladder tank was found on a beach in southern California.
Findings
Investigations into the recovered wreckage showed no signs of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally prior to the impact. However, testimony regarding the preparation of the ferry tank system revealed potential procedural issues. A mechanic involved in the setup stated he had installed the system but had not filled it with fuel. He believed the co-pilot, who was also a mechanic, was responsible for completing the final installation and the necessary logbook entries. It remains unconfirmed if the final installation steps and required documentation were properly finalized.