Event
During the arrival phase, the pilot was informed that the airport weather had just changed to instrument flight rules (IFR). The controller assigned the pilot an altitude of 2,900 feet above mean sea level and provided a vector for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach. Shortly after receiving this vector, the pilot reported motor difficulty and requested a straight-in approach. In response, the controller provided a vector directly toward the airport, but the aircraft was losing altitude rapidly. The pilot subsequently executed a gear-up landing on a boulevard while heading westbound.
During the landing rollout, the aircraft struck a steel street sign, then collided with a westbound automobile. It continued and struck two steel street sign posts and a concrete guardrail before coming to a stop. The aircraft then caught fire.
Injuries and Damage
Two passengers escaped the burning aircraft by kicking out a left rear window and climbing out. The third passenger was unable to exit through that window, sustained serious burns, and subsequently died.
The right wing sustained extensive fire damage. The left wing had minimal damage despite the left fuel tank being ruptured. Post-accident examination of the left fuel tank yielded only a few drops of fuel.
Fuel Investigation
Fuel calculations performed after the accident indicated that the aircraft should have consumed approximately 44.5 gallons of fuel since its last refueling. The usable fuel capacity of each tank was 44.5 gallons. Only a few drops of fuel were recovered from the left tank.