What happened
The flight was proceeding toward a planned fuel stop when the situation changed unexpectedly. Upon arriving in the area designated for refueling, one of the passengers began to feel unwell. The pilot assessed the remaining fuel load and determined that there was sufficient quantity to continue the journey to the final destination without stopping.
However, the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion approximately 8 miles short of the intended destination. With power lost, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure. The initial site selected for the emergency landing was a road; however, due to obstructions in that area, the pilot decided to divert to an alternative location. During this maneuver, the aircraft collided with trees before reaching an open field.
The investigation
The examination of the event focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of power and the subsequent collision. Key factors included the decision to continue to the final destination despite passenger illness and the lack of adequate fuel reserves for the diversion.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot's determination that adequate fuel remained to reach the final destination proved incorrect, leading to a loss of engine power. The subsequent collision with trees occurred during an attempt to find a suitable forced landing site after the initial choice (a road) was deemed obstructed.
probable_cause: