Aircraft Impacts Ground Short of Runway After Loss of Power on Final Approach (N5477D)

Approach and Loss of Power During the approach, the airplane drifted below the glide slope while on short final. The pilot advanced the throttle and discovered that the aircraft had lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and switched the fuel tanks, but the airplane was already at a low altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground short of the runway. ## Post-Crash Findings The auxiliary tanks were damaged in the impact and were found dry by the recovery person. Friends of the pilot reportedly moved the wreckage and drained the fuel from the airplane before an authorized inspection. Twenty-six gallons of fuel was removed from the left main tank. In a post-crash examination, the engine tested successfully after an adjustment was made to a fuel line separation that had been damaged by the impact. ## Fuel Prior to the Flight The pilot purchased 35.5 gallons of fuel before the flight and, according to his own account, filled the tanks.