This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative: The pilot reported that, on the morning of the accident, several preflight fuel samples from the airplane's wing tanks contained debris, but he was eventually able to obtain clean fuel samples. He subsequently departed and made several stops at different airports before departing with another airplane as a flight of two for the purpose of taking photos. The pilot stated that he was performing a descending left turn when, about 3,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the engine lost total power but the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and ditched the airplane into the ocean. Immediately after impact, he and the passenger egressed and stood on the wing until the airplane sank into about 145 feet of water. The wreckage was not recovered and could not be examined; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.