What happened
A Cessna 340 departed Bankstown, NSW, bound for Townsville, Qld, via several intermediate waypoints. During the flight, the pilot decided to alter the flight plan to proceed toward Cairns due to a strong tailwind. While communicating with air traffic control, the pilot declared a fuel emergency in an attempt to expedite arrival at the destination.
As the aircraft descended to 4,000 ft, the pilot observed a fuel flow gauge dropping to zero, followed by engine surges and rough running. The pilot notified the controller of the engine issues. Although the controller suggested an alternative landing site at Greenhill, the pilot was unable to locate the specific strip immediately. After performing several steep turns to search for a landing area, the pilot identified a cleared field and attempted an approach. During the maneuver, the aircraft's airspeed dropped significantly. The aircraft struck the ground short of the field and slid approximately 20 metres. The accident resulted in one serious injury to the pilot and minor injuries to the passengers.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was fuel exhaustion leading to engine instability during the emergency descent.