What happened
During the descent toward the intended destination, the pilot notified air traffic control of a requirement to divert to a nearer airport due to insufficient fuel. Controllers suggested an alternative airfield located 4 miles away. After contacting the tower at the alternate airport to report the fuel shortage, the pilot received clearance to land. Approximately 30 seconds after this clearance, the pilot communicated that the aircraft would be unable to reach the runway. The aircraft type subsequently struck a field located 3.25 miles southeast of the airport.
Witnesses at the scene noted that the engine sounded irregular and appeared to sputter prior to the crash. The impact site was located 311 feet from forty-foot power lines. It is believed the pilot may have been attempting to maneuver around these lines during an emergency landing, which likely resulted in an unintentional stall and subsequent terrain collision.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed approximately 1 quart of fuel in each tank, though no fuel spillage or odors were present at the site. While the fuel totalizer indicated that 123 gallons of fuel remained, this figure is based on manual pilot inputs and was likely inaccurate. Evidence suggests the pilot failed to update the totalizer correctly before the flight and was likely monitoring the totalizer rather than the actual fuel gauges.
Analysis of the annunciator panel showed that the low fuel pressure lights for both the left and right sides were illuminated at the time of impact. Although the pilot reported a low fuel state, the engine and airframe showed no mechanical defects that would have prevented standard operation. The discrepancy between the totalizer reading and the actual fuel level is a primary factor, as the pilot likely relied on the incorrect totalizer data until the low-pressure warnings activated.