CEN15LA366

The commercial pilot was participating in a cantaloupe bombing run being conducted in conjunction with a local fly-in. The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and then proceeded to take off. He added that, after turning onto the base leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost power and that he subsequently landed the airplane short of the airport in mesquite trees. Examination of the airplane revealed that the tanks contained no fuel, and no fuel could be drained from either wing or the fuselage sump drains. The fuel tanks and lines were not compromised. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not ensure that adequate fuel was onboard the airplane during the preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power.

On August 2, 2015, about 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna 206 airplane, N5033U, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Pecos, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained damage to the fuselage, horizontal tail, nose landing gear, propeller and left wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ), Pecos, Texas, about 0950. The pilot reported that he performed a pre-flight inspection of the airplane and proceeded to take off for a cantaloupe bombing run being conducted in conjunction with a fly-in at PEQ. He said that after turning on the left base leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost power and his only alternative was to land short of the airport in small mesquite trees. An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and determined that the fuel tanks were empty. He attempted to obtain fuel from the wing and fuselage sumps and no fuel could be drained. He noted that the fuel lines and fuel tanks were not compromised.