What happened
During an ILS/Localizer approach at dusk, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing, but the aircraft collided with trees and a fence before coming to rest inverted. The impact occurred approximately 3,000 feet short of the runway threshold. At the time of the accident, weather conditions included falling snow and a ceiling of 600 feet.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies. While the engine's air intake systems were destroyed during the accident, an operational check performed on a test stand showed no mechanical anomalies.
Regarding the fuel system, the left fuel tank was breached; however, investigators found no residual fuel or fuel stains in or around the left tank. Approximately one gallon of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. Investigators noted "frozen fuel" extending from the right fuel tank cap to the ground. Fuel was discovered throughout the engine and the fuel system.
A toxicology screen of the pilot's urine showed a positive result for morphine at 0.591 ng/ml, though no morphine was detected in his blood. Medical personnel noted that such a level could result from a false positive due to the ingestion of certain normal food products.