On July 9, 2007, a Piper PA-12 (registration N3964M) operated by Marc A. Olson was involved in an aviation accident near Mukilteo, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane struck trees while executing a forced landing after the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion on approach to the destination airport. The pilot reported not visually checking fuel quantity during preflight.
Accident Summary
The aircraft collided with trees during a forced landing. The forced landing was necessitated after the engine lost power because of fuel exhaustion. The event occurred on approach to the pilot's destination airport. Following the loss of power, the airplane descended and struck trees located approximately 3,000 feet short of the intended runway.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, he did not visually ascertain the quantity of fuel in the tanks. He also noted that en route to his destination, he flew past several airports, beaches, and roads. According to the pilot, no mechanical malfunctions were experienced during the flight.