What happened
The pilot departed Riverside Municipal Airport with an estimated 28 gallons of fuel on board, consisting of approximately 23 gallons in the left tank and about 5 gallons in the right tank. The flight was directed toward Palm Springs. During the approach phase, the aircraft began its descent from an altitude of 11,500 feet.
At an altitude of 7,000 feet, the engine ceased operation. With the airport located approximately five miles away, the pilot contacted Palm Springs Air Traffic Control to report that the aircraft was low on fuel. Despite these efforts, the aircraft was unable to reach the runway threshold and landed short of the paved surface.
The investigation
Examination of the flight data and witness statements confirmed that the engine failure was consistent with a lack of fuel supply. The initial fuel load was insufficient for the intended destination given the operational parameters. No mechanical defects were identified that would have caused an unplanned shutdown independent of fuel status.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this incident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot's decision to depart with a marginal fuel reserve, combined with the distance to the destination and the altitude at which the engine quit, left no margin for error. The aircraft came to rest short of the runway due to the loss of power during the final approach.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure adequate fuel reserves are calculated before departure, accounting for en-route consumption, holding patterns, and potential diversions. Relying on marginal fuel loads increases the risk of fuel exhaustion, which can lead to engine failure and forced landings in unprepared areas.