Incident Details
A pilot flying from Saint George, Utah to Imperial, Georgia, encountered fog while approaching El Cajon Pass, south of Apple Valley, California. The pilot attempted to fly under the fog but was unsuccessful. He then reversed course and headed back toward Apple Valley. As the aircraft proceeded toward Apple Valley, the engine began losing power. The pilot conducted a landing on level, rough desert terrain, during which the aircraft sustained damage.
Post-Landing Actions
After the aircraft came to a stop, the engine was still running. The pilot shut it down. According to reports, the left and right fuel tanks had 10 and 5 gallons of fuel remaining, respectively.
Engine Examination
An examination of the engine revealed no discrepancies.