What happened
The pilot departed Shreveport, Louisiana, at approximately 1400 Central Daylight Time (CDT) as part of the return leg of a cross-country flight bound for Jackson, Mississippi. A Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan was filed prior to departure, indicating that the aircraft carried three and one-half hours of fuel on board.
At about 1706 CDT, the aircraft impacted a tree located adjacent to a gravel road near French Settlement, Louisiana. The crash site was situated approximately 140 miles south-southwest of the intended destination in Jackson. At the time of the accident, the pilot was attempting to locate a suitable site for a precautionary landing.
Findings
The flight occurred under visual meteorological conditions. The primary factor leading to the incident was the inability of the aircraft to remain airborne due to insufficient fuel reserves. The pilot made the decision to execute a precautionary landing, which resulted in the collision with terrain and vegetation.