Flight Planning and Departure
The pilot planned a local night flight to an airport approximately 16 miles north-northwest of the departure airport. Before departure, the pilot noted that the fuel gauges indicated nearly full on the left fuel tank and about one-third full on the right fuel tank. The pilot did not visually check the fuel level prior to flight, relying solely on the fuel gauge indications.
Outbound Leg and Practice Approach
After departure, the flight proceeded to the intermediate airport as planned. The pilot executed a practice Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach and landed without incident.
Pre-Return Fuel Check and Takeoff
Before the return flight, the pilot observed that the fuel gauges indicated "a little less than full" on the left fuel tank and about one-quarter full on the right fuel tank. After takeoff, the flight proceeded direct to the intended destination at 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl).
Power Loss During Approach
With no reported traffic in the area, the pilot selected a straight-in approach. About three-quarters of a mile from the runway, the engine began to lose power. Efforts to restore full power were not successful. The pilot noted that the mixture control had not been adjusted after takeoff and was at full rich for the entire flight.
Collision with Terrain
Attempting to stretch the glide to reach the runway, the left wing struck a tree during the approach. The airplane subsequently impacted an adjacent roadway.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tanks did not appear to be breached. Only a small amount of fuel remained in the fuel tanks.
Review of Fuel Records
A review of the airplane flight log and fueling records showed that the airplane had been flown 3.4 hours since it was last refueled. Manufacturer's documentation noted that the airplane’s fuel capacity was 26 gallons total, with 22.5 gallons usable. Fuel consumption ranged from 4.9 gallons per hour (gph) at 65-percent power to 5.9 gph at 78-percent power (full throttle) at 2,000 feet pressure altitude. Approximately an additional 0.8 gallons are consumed during start-up, taxi, and takeoff.