Incident Overview
On the second leg of his daily check run from Dallas to El Paso, the pilot contacted Fort Worth ARTCC to report an engine failure and his intention to land on a road. The aircraft did not reach the road and subsequently landed in open terrain with the landing gear retracted.
Fuel System Examination
Following the incident, fuel system continuity could not be established. The wings had been removed, and impact damage affected the header tanks, preventing a complete assessment of the fuel system's condition. Company records and the pilot's statement indicated that ample fuel should have been available in both tanks at the time of the power loss.
Engine Test
The engine was removed and test-run. During the test, it met all specified parameters, operating normally without any identified malfunctions.