What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
At the accident site, no fuel could be drained out of both fuel tanks. They appeared empty. Telephone conversation with PIC revealed that he did not do a visual inspection of how much fuel was in the tanks during preflite. An electronic fuel meter gauge was installed in the aircraft panel. I ask the PIC how much fuel was indicated on the electronic gauge prior to t.o. he stated that he did not remember. PIC also stated that engine lost all power at 4000 ft. MSL he could not get a restart. PIC set up to land in corn field and upon landing hit a steel sprinkler system that was in the field, causing substancial damage to aircraft and minor injuries to the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, NO FUEL COULD BE DRAINED OUT OF BOTH FUEL TANKS. THEY APPEARED EMPTY. TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH PIC REVEALED THAT HE DID NOT DO A VISUAL INSPECTION OF HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE TANKS DURING PREFLITE. AN ELECTRONIC FUEL METER GAUGE WAS INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT PANEL. I ASK THE PIC HOW MUCH FUEL WAS INDICATED ON THE ELECTRONIC GAUGE PRIOR TO T.O. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT REMEMBER. PIC ALSO STATED THAT ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AT 4000 FT. MSL HE COULD NOT GET A RESTART. PIC SET UP TO LAND IN CORN FIELD AND UPON LANDING HIT A STEEL SPRINKLER SYSTEM THAT WAS IN THE FIELD, CAUSING SUBSTANCIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.