What happened
The pilot departed the airport carrying 30 gallons of fuel. During the flight, deteriorating weather conditions necessitated a deviation from the planned route, which extended the duration of the trip. The pilot had calculated that the remaining fuel reserve would be sufficient to reach the destination, but this reserve was fully consumed before arrival.
Upon realizing the fuel exhaustion, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on a curving road. During the landing roll, the aircraft departed the road surface at a curve and entered marshy terrain. The impact caused the gear to collapse due to overload as the aircraft collided with two sign structures.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot's decision to deviate from the planned route due to weather, combined with insufficient fuel reserves for the extended flight time, led to the loss of engine power. The subsequent forced landing on an unsuitable surface resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that sufficient fuel reserves are available not only for the planned route but also for potential deviations due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Calculating fuel requirements based solely on the original flight plan can be dangerous if en-route conditions change.