Incident Overview
During a final approach at an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground, the engine of an aircraft began to lose power. The aircraft subsequently touched down on the edge of a ditch located on airport property, short of the intended landing runway.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he had purchased the aircraft and flown it for 1.5 hours before the incident. Prior to his ownership, the aircraft had not been flown for about a year. He also reported that the previous owner had used automotive fuel in the fuel system. The pilot remarked that he "probably could have got it restarted...but I only had 200 feet of altitude. I pumped the throttle and that probably just made it worse...(I should have) just left it wide open, it might have restarted."
Examination Results
A post-accident examination of the aircraft engine and systems found no evidence of mechanical malfunction. An engine run-up conducted after the incident was successful, indicating the engine operated normally.
Additional Information
The pilot's comments suggest uncertainty regarding the proper response to the power loss, but no official determination of cause was provided in the report.