What happened
The aircraft was operating under instrument flight rules and was conducting an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 36 when it experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and executed a forced landing into a wooded area located approximately five miles south of the airport.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the aircraft revealed that there was no fuel remaining in either of the main fuel tanks or in any of the fuel drains. To determine if mechanical failure contributed to the event, a subsequent engine test was conducted. This test demonstrated that the engine operated normally at available revolutions per minute, indicating that the loss of power was not due to internal mechanical failure but rather to the lack of fuel supply.
Findings
The primary factor leading to this accident was the depletion of the aircraft's fuel supply during the approach phase. The absence of fuel in all accessible points confirmed that the engine stopped due to starvation rather than malfunction. The impact damage sustained during the crash did not affect the engine's ability to run if fuel had been present.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure accurate fuel quantity calculations and regular monitoring of fuel levels, particularly during instrument approaches where attention may be divided between navigation and aircraft control.