Accident Overview
During cruise flight, the airplane suddenly lost all engine power. The pilot executed an emergency landing, during which the left wing collided with a tree.
Flight History
The pilot had departed earlier that day with full fuel tanks. After making a series of stops, the pilot planned an unscheduled stop to have breakfast and refuel the aircraft.
Engine Malfunction Sequence
Without warning, the engine sputtered briefly and then regained normal rpm. Engine instruments indicated normal operation at that time. Shortly thereafter, the engine completely quit, leaving the pilot with no power.
Emergency Landing
The pilot performed a forced landing. During the landing sequence, the left wing made contact with a tree.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot believed that fuel exhaustion caused the engine to stop.