Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during an en route flight to the destination airport, the fuel gauges malfunctioned and erroneously indicated empty tanks. With the insistence of the passenger, the pilot decided to divert to the nearest airport.
Approach and Landing
The approach to the airport was normal, and the pilot configured the airplane for landing. However, the airplane touched down on the runway surface with excessive force, causing it to bounce down the runway two or three times. During the sequence of bounces, the nose landing gear collapsed.
Post-Impact Condition
The airplane came to rest just over halfway down the runway. Examination after the event revealed that the impact had caused damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
Contributing Factors
The pilot's written statement attributed the diversion to the erroneous fuel gauge indications and the passenger's insistence. The hard landing and subsequent nose gear collapse were the direct results of the touchdown forces.