Incident Overview
A pilot flying a single-engine airplane encountered a fuel shortage after experiencing stronger than forecast head winds. The pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control and decided to descend through an overcast cloud layer to search for a suitable off-airport landing site.
Descent and Engine Failure
While descending in the clouds, the engine stopped. After breaking out of the clouds, the pilot located a sandy, muskeg-like area for an emergency landing.
Forced Landing
During the forced landing, the airplane's left wing struck the ground. The precise extent of damage to the aircraft was not detailed in the report.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported being low on fuel because of the stronger than forecast head winds prior to the emergency declaration. The decision to descend through the overcast was made to find a landing site away from an airport.
Investigation
No probable cause was stated in the source material. The investigation likely focused on fuel management and weather factors.