What happened
The pilot was operating under instrument flight rules when the engine experienced a complete loss of power. At the time of the failure, the aircraft was being vectored by air traffic control for an approach to the airport. Unable to maintain altitude or continue the approach, the pilot initiated a forced landing in a nearby field that contained several trees.
During the descent and impact sequence, the aircraft collided with multiple trees and the terrain. The force of the collision caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch downward, resulting in a nosed-over position on the ground.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the fuel system revealed that usable fuel remained in both tanks. Approximately one to two gallons of usable fuel were found in the selected tank at the time of the incident. Additionally, approximately eight gallons of usable fuel remained in the other tank.
The presence of fuel in the tanks indicates that the engine failure was not due to total depletion of all available fuel sources, but rather a specific issue with fuel delivery or selection from the active tank.