Incident Overview
A pilot, flying a personal cross-country trip to Phoenix, Arizona, overloaded the aircraft with five passengers and baggage. Departing under visual flight rules (VFR), the pilot climbed to 14,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) and maintained that altitude until reaching Salt Lake City, Utah. The aircraft was then descended to 7,500 feet MSL and later climbed back to 14,500 feet MSL.
Sequence of Events
Approximately 60 miles north of Prescott, Arizona, the pilot extended the VFR flight plan by 15 minutes. After an actual enroute time of 5 hours and 27 minutes, when the aircraft was about 20 miles south of Prescott, the engine failed while the aircraft was at 14,500 feet MSL. The pilot executed a forced landing off airport during night conditions. During the landing, the aircraft struck a tree and collided with the ground in an abandoned cellar.
Post-Accident Findings
Examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed no fuel present, and no fuel leakage was observed at the accident site. No other details regarding aircraft type, registration, operator, or occupant injuries were provided in the source material.