What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) Aircraft engine failed, radar contact was lost, crashed. (.4) the homebuilt airplane impacted the ground after experiencing a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight at night. The private pilot had accumulated 8 hours in the airplane since purchasing it on 1/3/97. On the afternoon of the accident, the pilot obtained forecasts for a planned flight to san angelo. The forecast was for prevailing IMC for the next few days. The pilot topped off the 20 gallon system with 16 gallons of 100LL fuel, executed touch-and-go landings for 30 minutes, and returned to the FBO. The pilot then discussed his plans with an FBO employee, finally telling the employee that he was not going to san angelo because his airplane was not equipped with instrument or cockpit lights. The pilot later changed his mind and departed on the 299 mile night cross country flight. About 10 minutes later, while leveled at 3,500 feet the pilot reported a loss of engine power. No fuel was found in the header tank, fuel lines or carburetor. A few drops of fuel were found in the fuel filter. (-23) see narrative #FTW97FA109.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST, CRASHED. (.4) THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER EXPERIENCING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT NIGHT. THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED 8 HOURS IN THE AIRPLANE SINCE PURCHASING IT ON 1/3/97. ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT OBTAINED FORECASTS FOR A PLANNED FLIGHT TO SAN ANGELO. THE FORECAST WAS FOR PREVAILING IMC FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE PILOT TOPPED OFF THE 20 GALLON SYSTEM WITH 16 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL, EXECUTED TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS FOR 30 MINUTES, AND RETURNED TO THE FBO. THE PILOT THEN DISCUSSED HIS PLANS WITH AN FBO EMPLOYEE, FINALLY TELLING THE EMPLOYEE THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO SAN ANGELO BECAUSE HIS AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH INSTRUMENT OR COCKPIT LIGHTS. THE PILOT LATER CHANGED HIS MIND AND DEPARTED ON THE 299 MILE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, WHILE LEVELED AT 3,500 FEET THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE HEADER TANK, FUEL LINES OR CARBURETOR. A FEW DROPS OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL FILTER. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #FTW97FA109.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.