What happened
A cargo flight operating on an on-demand basis experienced significant delays while en route to its intended destination. These delays were caused by frequent closures of the destination airport, which were necessitated by snow-contaminated runway conditions. Due to the extended duration of the flight and concerns regarding the remaining fuel levels, the pilot elected to divert the aircraft to an alternate airport.
While performing an instrument approach at the alternate airport, the aircraft suffered a loss of engine power. The plane subsequently impacted the ground approximately 200 yards before reaching the landing runway. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities mentioned in the initial sequence of events.
Findings
An inspection of the aircraft conducted after the accident revealed that there was no usable fuel remaining on board at the time of the impact. This lack of fuel was the primary factor leading to the engine power loss during the approach phase.