Aircraft: Buccaneer II. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Granite Quarry, N.C. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.
What reportedly happened: The pilot added about five gallons of automotive gasoline to the airplane’s fuel tank before departing on a local flight. Witnesses saw the airplane flying at a low altitude when the engine lost power.
The plane struck power lines and crashed in an open field.
An examination of the airplane’s fuel lines revealed only a small amount of residual fuel. The fuel tank contained only residual fuel and was not breached.
Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA584
This August 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
