What happened
The aircraft experienced a partial loss of engine power during flight. In response to the power loss, the pilot attempted a forced landing. During the descent, the aircraft impacted trees and the terrain.
While the pilot initially reported to a physician that the engine had lost approximately 70% of its power, a later statement provided to legal counsel attributed the event to fuel exhaustion.
The investigation
Following the accident, emergency responders and Federal Aviation Administration inspectors arrived at the scene within two hours. During the inspection, no fuel leaks were detected, and no smell of fuel was present at the site.
A mechanical examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies other than damage caused by the impact with the terrain and trees. Investigators examined the left fuel tank and found it contained only unusable fuel. The investigation also noted that the fuel selector was positioned to the left fuel tank.