What happened
The aircraft was operating under instrument flight rules when the pilot contacted air traffic control to report mechanical issues with the engine. The pilot, who was accompanied by a dual-student, identified the problem as a lack of fuel. Air traffic control immediately vectored the aircraft toward the nearest airport for an emergency landing.
While attempting to reach the airport, the aircraft struck trees located approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Bremerton. Upon arrival at the crash site, investigators found that there was no fuel remaining in the tanks and no odor of fuel was detectable. In a subsequent interview, the pilot confirmed that the engine had quit due to fuel exhaustion.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft impacted trees before reaching the airport. Investigators noted the absence of fuel at the site, which supported the pilot's statement regarding the cause of the engine failure.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the fuel exhaustion. The pilot failed to ensure sufficient fuel was available for the flight, resulting in the loss of engine power while in instrument meteorological conditions.