What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach when the aircraft turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern. During this phase, the pilot extended the flaps to 20 degrees and increased the angle of bank. These maneuvers resulted in a significantly increased rate of descent. In response to the steepening glide path, the pilot added power to the engine to correct the descent rate.
However, the engine did not respond to the throttle input. The pilot attempted to restore engine power by pumping the throttle and engaging the electric fuel boost pump. These actions failed to restart or maintain engine operation. Consequently, the aircraft impacted a landfill located short of the runway threshold. After the initial impact, the aircraft slid onto the runway surface.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical response of the engine during the final approach phase. Examination revealed that the engine did not respond to throttle inputs despite the pilot's efforts to pump the throttle and activate the electric fuel boost pump. No other mechanical anomalies were noted in the provided narrative.
Findings
Contributing factors included the increased rate of descent caused by flap extension and bank angle, followed by a complete loss of engine power that could not be restored through standard pilot procedures such as throttle pumping or boost pump activation.