MIA88FA134

Factual narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD FILLED THE MAIN TANKS AND NEARLY FILLED THE TWO AUX TANKS EARLIER AND HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 1 HR USING ONE OF THE AUX TANKS FOR CRUISE. HE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF USING THE MAINS & WHEN HE LEVELED AT 2600 FT, HE SWITCHED TO ONE OF THE AUX TANKS. MOMENTS LATER, THE ENG QUIT & THE PLT COULD NOT GET A RESTART. A FORCED LDG WAS MADE INTO THE TREE TOPS & THE ACFT CRASHED TO THE GROUND. EACH AUX TANK HOLDS ABOUT 17 GALS & THE ACFT BURNS 13 TO 15 GALS PER HR. THE PLT STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY SWITCHED TO A NEARLY DEPLETED AUX TANK & THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE REASON FOR THE ENG FAILURE. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THE MAIN FILTER, SELECTOR & SPIDER WERE DRY. NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF ANY AIRFRAME OR ENG COMPONENTS WAS FOUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12