Incident Overview
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the pilot executed a reduced power descent over a nearby 4,000-foot mountain ridge to reach a sea level airport. After entering the airport traffic pattern, the pilot continued the descent. While on final approach for landing, the pilot attempted to add engine power to adjust the approach flight path. When the throttle was advanced, there was no response from the engine, and the aircraft subsequently landed short of the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the engine was examined. It had been exposed to a postcrash fire and fire fighting activities. The engine contained no fuel, and only a small quantity of a foul-smelling blackish/brown liquid was found. The pilot reported that the right-hand tank had been selected and that approximately 2.5 hours of flight time had been conducted while drawing fuel from that tank.
Engine Test
The engine was subsequently run satisfactorily in a test cell, indicating no mechanical malfunction independent of the fuel system condition.