What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Owner/pilot was enroute from pittsfield, ME to newport, VT with passenger. While enroute engine began to lose power. Pilot was unable to restore full power by switching fuel tanks, carb heat, primer, etc. Pilot executed forced landing in wooded area. Aircraft impacted trees at minimal power, came to rest at 45 degree angle. Pilot sustained severe injuries and was trapped in wreckage. Passenger, although injured, was able to exit and summon assistance. On-scene investigation revealed what appeared to be mixture of automotive fuel and aviation fuel. Flight instructor/personal friend of pilot stated that pilot routinely mixed auto fuel, aviation fuel, lead additive and octane booster as fuel. Aircraft records had entry for automotive fuel STC, however, inspection of aircraft could not produce required placards, required clamp on pushrod tube (engine) or documentation for STC which is required to be on board the aircraft when auto fuel is used. Compression check (finger method) revealed reasonable compression all cylinders. Spark from right mag to all plugs. Left fuel tank had vent tube blocked by mud dauber wasps nest. Pilot is in critical condition at the time of this report.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) OWNER/PILOT WAS ENROUTE FROM PITTSFIELD, ME TO NEWPORT, VT WITH PASSENGER. WHILE ENROUTE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE FULL POWER BY SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, CARB HEAT, PRIMER, ETC. PILOT EXECUTED FORCED LANDING IN WOODED AREA. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES AT MINIMAL POWER, CAME TO REST AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE. PILOT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND WAS TRAPPED IN WRECKAGE. PASSENGER, ALTHOUGH INJURED, WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND SUMMON ASSISTANCE. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED WHAT APPEARED TO BE MIXTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AND AVIATION FUEL. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR/PERSONAL FRIEND OF PILOT STATED THAT PILOT ROUTINELY MIXED AUTO FUEL, AVIATION FUEL, LEAD ADDITIVE AND OCTANE BOOSTER AS FUEL. AIRCRAFT RECORDS HAD ENTRY FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL STC, HOWEVER, INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT COULD NOT PRODUCE REQUIRED PLACARDS, REQUIRED CLAMP ON PUSHROD TUBE (ENGINE) OR DOCUMENTATION FOR STC WHICH IS REQUIRED TO BE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WHEN AUTO FUEL IS USED. COMPRESSION CHECK (FINGER METHOD) REVEALED REASONABLE COMPRESSION ALL CYLINDERS. SPARK FROM RIGHT MAG TO ALL PLUGS. LEFT FUEL TANK HAD VENT TUBE BLOCKED BY MUD DAUBER WASPS NEST. PILOT IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.