Sep 22, 2004
Accident
Substantial Lancaster, SC
Injuries1 serious
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 091
Probable Cause
A partial loss of engine power in-flight due to water ingestion and his misjudgment of obstacle clearance resulting in a collision with trees and the ground. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to follow the manufactures instructions for installing a sump drain in the fuel system during construction of the airplane.
NTSB ATL04CA191