What happened
The pilot was conducting a final approach for landing when the engine lost power after the throttle was advanced. The aircraft touched down short of the runway, coming to rest in a field adjacent to the airport. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed due to the impact and subsequent forces.
The investigation
Mechanics examined the aircraft following the accident to determine the cause of the engine failure. Their inspection revealed that the engine-driven fuel pump was inoperative. Additionally, they found that the fuel boost pump was in the off position at the time of the incident.
Findings
The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel starvation caused by mechanical and operational factors. The primary contributing factor was the inoperative engine-driven fuel pump. This condition was compounded by the fuel boost pump being left in the off position, which prevented adequate fuel flow to the engine during critical phases of flight.