What happened
Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 6500 feet when the engine suddenly lost power. Reports indicated that the engine either settled to idle or entered a windmilling condition, accompanied by a drop in fuel pressure to zero. The pilot attempted to restart the engine using emergency procedures but was unsuccessful.
At this time, the aircraft was located approximately 12 miles northwest of Gwinnett County Airport. The pilot initially tried to contact Atlanta Approach Control (Satellite Radar Position) but experienced difficulty establishing radio contact. Once communication was established, the pilot declared a 'Mayday situation.' Forty-seven seconds later, air traffic control provided a vector to the airport and advised that it was seven miles ahead.
Several subsequent radio calls from the pilot were blocked by other aircraft using the same frequency. Realizing the aircraft could not glide to the airport, the pilot initiated a turn to land on a nearby road. However, the aircraft struck a tree before crashing into a utility pole and a house, resulting in a fire. Nearby individuals removed the occupants from the wreckage. The aircraft, the house, and two cars were badly burned.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of fuel pressure and engine power. No reason was found for the loss of fuel pressure and engine power.