What happened
During a local flight involving the pilot-in-command and one passenger, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of power. Shortly after beginning the flight, the pilot communicated that the aircraft was out of fuel. The aircraft was attempting to return to the airfield on an approach when both engines ceased functioning.
Unable to reach the runway, the aircraft impacted a lake. Following the crash, the occupants successfully evacuated the wreckage before being rescued by local fishermen. The aircraft eventually settled on the floor of the lake. Records indicate that the pilot-in-command had recently finished a cross-country flight in the same aircraft but had not performed any refueling prior to this departure.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the management of the aircraft's fuel supply. The primary cause was fuel exhaustion, as the pilot-in-command failed to ensure an adequate supply of fuel for the flight. This lack of oversight led to the total loss of engine power during the final approach phase.