What happened
The pilot executed a forced landing in a dense grove of trees located approximately one and a half miles north of the airport. This emergency maneuver occurred after the pilot reported an engine failure attributed to fuel exhaustion. Prior to the incident, the pilot confirmed that there was sufficient fuel on board to complete the flight under normal circumstances.
However, the aircraft's route was altered en route to avoid various thunderstorms in the area. This course deviation contributed to the depletion of fuel reserves. Although the pilot noted that the fuel gauges had been unreliable prior to the accident, maintenance personnel were unable to replicate or confirm the gauge malfunction during post-accident inspections.
The investigation
Maintenance personnel examined the aircraft following the incident. Their inspection focused on the fuel gauge system due to the pilot's claims of unreliability. Despite the pilot's assertion that the gauges had failed, the maintenance team could not duplicate the reported problem. This suggests that the fuel quantity indications may have been accurate at the time of the flight, or that the issue was intermittent and not reproducible during the inspection.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was fuel exhaustion. The combination of an en route course deviation to avoid weather and potentially unreliable fuel gauges resulted in the engine stopping. The pilot's decision to deviate from the planned route, while necessary for safety regarding weather, depleted the fuel supply more quickly than anticipated. The inability of maintenance to duplicate the gauge issue leaves the accuracy of the fuel readings during the flight as a key point of uncertainty.
Safety message
Pilots should be aware that course deviations for weather avoidance can significantly impact fuel consumption. Regular verification of fuel quantity and gauge functionality is essential, especially when operating in areas with unpredictable weather patterns.