What happened
Shortly after initiating the initial descent for a landing at the destination airport, the aircraft's engine experienced a loss of power. Although the engine continued to run intermittently, the pilot was unable to restore full thrust. Consequently, the pilot made an emergency landing on a nearby highway. During the landing roll, the left wing struck two highway signs, resulting in substantial damage to that section of the airframe.
The investigation
Following the incident, a visual examination of the fuel tanks was conducted. No visible fuel was found in the left tank, while only an estimated 3 to 4 gallons remained in the right tank. After the aircraft was leveled, the engine was restarted and ran for approximately 10 minutes. It is noted that six gallons of fuel for this specific aircraft type are considered unusable due to design limitations.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the incident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot's inability to maintain sufficient power during the descent phase, combined with the low fuel state indicated by the post-landing inspection, points directly to a depletion of usable fuel resources. The subsequent damage to the left wing was a direct result of the emergency landing on an unpaved or uneven highway surface.
Safety message
This incident highlights the critical importance of accurate fuel planning and management during descent phases. Pilots must ensure that sufficient fuel reserves are maintained well above the unusable fuel quantity for their specific aircraft type to allow for contingencies and safe completion of the flight.