Incident Overview
A night visual flight rules (VFR) flight departed from San Carlos, California, en route to Eugene, Oregon. During the flight, the pilot contacted approach control and inquired about the distance to the airport. Air traffic control (ATC) advised that the airport was 16 miles farther ahead.
Sequence of Events
Approximately three minutes after the exchange, the left fuel tank became empty. The pilot then switched to the right tank and declared an emergency. Subsequently, he requested vectors to the nearest airport. ATC provided a heading of 050 degrees. The aircraft struck several trees about 4 miles short of the airport and crashed in a wooded area.
Findings
Post-crash examination revealed no fuel was present in the aircraft. The accident occurred at night under VFR conditions. The specific aircraft type, registration, and any casualties or injuries are not detailed in the report.