What happened
The pilot originally intended to land at a specific destination but was unable to do so because of fog. Consequently, the pilot elected to return to the Lake Hood airstrip. While on a three-mile final approach, the pilot reported an engine failure and indicated that he would have to land to the west. The aircraft did not reach the Lake Hood airstrip and instead performed a forced landing in a residential area, where it struck a tree and a house.
The investigation
Investigators conducted a subsequent examination of the airplane's fuel system. The inspection revealed no measurable quantity of fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. Furthermore, there was no detectable fuel odor in the vicinity of the aircraft and no discoloration of the surrounding snow. An examination of the carburetor also showed that there was no residual fuel present in the carburetor bowl or the associated fuel lines.