Incident Overview
During the approach to Jackson Airport, both engines of the aircraft failed. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, executed a forced landing. The aircraft subsequently struck trees and crashed, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined that the double engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion. Several contributing factors were identified, including inadequate preflight preparation, improper in-flight decisions, mismanagement of fuel, fuel exhaustion, and the presence of high obstructions in the landing area.
Investigation Details
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of engine power. The pilot's preflight planning and fuel management were found to be insufficient. Additionally, decisions made during the flight were deemed improper, and the pilot failed to adequately manage the available fuel. The terrain surrounding the forced landing site included high obstructions, which further complicated the landing attempt.