What happened
On August 31, 2011, a Cessna TU206F, registration N338F, was conducting a cross-country flight with an estimated three-hour duration and four hours of fuel onboard. During the flight, the pilot observed that headwinds were significantly stronger than originally forecasted. While passing over an airport along the route, the pilot calculated that only one hour of fuel remained, while the remaining flight time to the destination was estimated at 30 minutes.
As the aircraft approached the destination while receiving vectors from air traffic control, the engine sputtered and lost power. Although the pilot managed to restart the engine, it subsequently lost power again and failed to restart. Under dark night conditions, the pilot executed a forced landing into a small opening in a wooded area. The pilot sustained one minor injury and was not killed in the accident.
The investigation
First responders at the scene noted that there was no obvious odor of aviation fuel. The pilot informed rescuers that he believed the engine stopped because the aircraft had run out of fuel. Post-impact inspection showed the airplane's wings were wrinkled and bent, and the fuselage was bent upward immediately behind the cabin area.