What happened
Approximately eight miles from the destination airport, the pilot in command encountered a partial loss of engine power that quickly progressed to a complete failure. With no remaining thrust available, the pilot initiated an emergency landing procedure. The aircraft was landed on a golf course located about one mile short of the destination airport. During the landing roll on the rough sod adjacent to the fairway, the aircraft sustained significant damage to the wings, landing gear, propeller, and nose section.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that there was no fuel remaining in any of the four tanks. This finding confirmed that the power loss was due to fuel exhaustion rather than a mechanical failure of the engine or fuel system components.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was fuel exhaustion. The lack of fuel in all four tanks directly resulted in the complete loss of engine power, necessitating the off-airport landing. The rough terrain of the golf course contributed to the extent of the damage sustained during the forced landing.