On September 12, 1988, a Champion 7GCBC (registration N3059G) operated by Rinio, Martin R. was involved in an aviation accident near Fairbanks, AK. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot and his son were returning from a hunting trip when the airplane ran out of fuel. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on an unlighted roadway, striking a wire during approach. The aircraft landed hard, bounced into brush, and came to rest two miles short of its destination.
Incident Overview
A private pilot and his son were returning from a hunting trip when the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a forced landing onto an unlit roadway. During the approach, the airplane struck a telephone wire or small powerline.
Emergency Landing
The airplane touched down hard on the road surface, then bounced off the roadway and came to rest in adjacent brush. The landing occurred approximately two miles short of its intended destination.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that he had elected to deviate around an area of marginal VFR weather, which resulted in using more fuel than anticipated. The flight departed from an unknown location and was returning from the hunting trip at the time of the incident.