Incident Overview
An aircraft sustained damage during a forced landing at a construction site following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the power loss resulted from fuel exhaustion.
Flight Details
The pilot had planned a cross-country flight from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Plano, Texas. According to the pilot, sufficient fuel was on board for the journey. Upon reaching the Plano area, the pilot was unable to locate the intended airport.
Decision to Divert
Unable to find the Plano airport, the pilot decided to return to Denton Airport, which he had overflown earlier while en route to Plano. However, fuel exhaustion occurred before the pilot could locate Denton Airport.
Forced Landing
The resulting loss of engine power forced the pilot to conduct a landing at a construction site. The aircraft was damaged during the landing.
Investigation
Investigators determined that the forced landing was a direct consequence of fuel exhaustion, which led to the complete loss of engine power.