What happened
The flight was underway as a personal trip from a local airport to the pilot's private airstrip. During the approach phase at the destination, the engine experienced a loss of partial power. Unable to maintain altitude or reach the intended runway, the pilot executed a forced landing short of the destination.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft following the incident to determine the root cause of the power loss. A thorough inspection was conducted to identify any potential mechanical issues. However, no mechanical failure or malfunction could be identified during the examination.
Findings
The investigation revealed that the exact amount of fuel on board at the time of the accident could not be determined. This lack of data prevented a definitive conclusion regarding fuel status, though the partial power loss was the immediate cause of the forced landing.