Incident
Fuel exhaustion occurred during a normal cruise flight. After determining that fuel consumption would not allow reaching the intended destination, the pilot requested an emergency straight-in approach to the nearest airport. However, a forced landing was executed on a highway. During the landing, the aircraft's wing struck a parked vehicle that was occupied at the time.
Pilot Background
The pilot was accustomed to flying this route segment non-stop in a different make and model of aircraft. The specific aircraft involved in the incident was not the same type as the one the pilot typically used for such flights.
Investigation
Investigation into the incident revealed that a 25-knot headwind prevailed during the mishap flight. Calculations based on the aircraft's manual indicated that a non-stop flight to the original destination was not possible under the existing conditions, given the fuel consumption and wind factors.