Aircraft Crash Due to Fuel Exhaustion (N6919P)

Incident Overview and Fuel Management Decisions During the flight, the pilot and passengers reported that the aircraft was low on fuel as it approached its destination. The crew discussed the possibility of making an intermediate fuel stop but ultimately decided that the remaining fuel was sufficient to reach the destination airport. The aircraft was in cruise flight approximately 80 miles from the destination when the engine lost power. The instructor pilot switched from the right fuel tank to the left tank, which allowed the engine to restart. However, several minutes later, the engine lost power again. Subsequent restart attempts were unsuccessful, prompting the pilot to turn toward the nearest airport. The aircraft impacted trees about 1.5 miles short of the landing runway. Post-accident examination revealed no evidence of usable fuel in the aircraft's fuel system. The passengers reported that it was a dark night and that the aircraft hit the trees after turning to avoid an area with residential lights.