What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot reported that the engine sputtered at 3000 feet for about 30 seconds, while descending from 4000 feet. He then checked engine settings and the engine quit. He made several attempts to re-start it, but they were unsuccessful. Aircraft crashed in a vineyard. Three and a half gal. Of fuel were drained from the l/h tank, and one gal. From the r/h tank and few drops of fuel were collected from the fuel bowl. During engine run up it started normally. Magnetos operations was normal. Prior to engine run up it was noticed that the ignition switch was defective. In order to start the engine, during this test, the pilot had to apply pressure on the instrument panel. Pilot was aware of the ignition switch being defective before take off.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AT 3000 FEET FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, WHILE DESCENDING FROM 4000 FEET. HE THEN CHECKED ENGINE SETTINGS AND THE ENGINE QUIT. HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RE-START IT, BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A VINEYARD. THREE AND A HALF GAL. OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE L/H TANK, AND ONE GAL. FROM THE R/H TANK AND FEW DROPS OF FUEL WERE COLLECTED FROM THE FUEL BOWL. DURING ENGINE RUN UP IT STARTED NORMALLY. MAGNETOS OPERATIONS WAS NORMAL. PRIOR TO ENGINE RUN UP IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. IN ORDER TO START THE ENGINE, DURING THIS TEST, THE PILOT HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE BEFORE TAKE OFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N51256 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.