Incident Overview
The accident occurred during an ILS approach to runway 24. The engine lost power, and the pilot switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat, which restored power. After informing air traffic control, the pilot was advised to maintain heading toward the airport. As the airplane descended below an overcast layer at about 600 feet above ground level, the engine lost power again. The pilot again switched tanks, and the engine restarted.
Forced Landing Attempt
The pilot initiated a landing on a road but aborted due to traffic and turned back toward the airport. The engine lost power a third time. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck the top of a large tree and came to rest against a house.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination of the fuel system yielded less than one quart of fuel. An operational check showed the engine started on the first attempt and ran satisfactorily up to 2500 rpm. The flight duration was approximately 3.6 hours. En route, the aircraft flew at 4,000 feet msl except for about 16 minutes at 6,000 feet. The airplane had a fuel capacity of 50 gallons. According to fuel consumption charts for a lean mixture, rates were 10, 9.3, and 8.7 gallons per hour at 75, 70, and 65 percent power, respectively. The pilot reported a normal fuel consumption rate of 10.5 gallons per hour. The previous flight lasted 2.2 hours, after which 30.6 gallons were added.