What happened
The aircraft was operating during a cruise flight phase when the engine ceased operation while maintaining an altitude of 8,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot had been flying for five hours at the time of the incident. Following the loss of power, the pilot initiated an emergency landing procedure. The selected landing site consisted of unsuitable terrain, which resulted in the aircraft nosing over upon impact.
The investigation
Examination of the flight operations revealed that the aircraft was equipped with installed long-range fuel tanks. These modifications positioned the filler ports inboard, a configuration that limited the total fuel quantity by 10 gallons compared to standard installations. Consequently, the operational range of the aircraft was reduced by one hour relative to the data provided in the operator's manual.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was fuel exhaustion. The modification of the fuel system directly impacted the available endurance, leading to the engine quit during cruise. The subsequent landing on unsuitable terrain resulted in significant damage as the aircraft nosed over.