Flight Details
An aircraft departed Nashville, Tennessee, for Aspen, Colorado, with a refueling stop at Chanute, Kansas. After arriving in the vicinity of Aspen, the pilots were unable to land at Aspen or the designated alternate, Eagle, Colorado. They elected to return to the Denver area.
Emergency Descent
During the return, the pilots advised an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) controller that they were low on fuel. Before reaching an airport, the pilot reported an engine failure and expressed the belief that the aircraft had run out of fuel. While executing an emergency descent, the aircraft struck an electrical power pole, power lines, and subsequently the ground.
Post-Accident Inspection
Examination of the aircraft revealed approximately two to three gallons of fuel remaining in each main fuel tank.
Occupants and Injuries
All six occupants sustained injuries, with three classified as serious.
Probable Cause
The official finding identified the primary cause as loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, attributed to improper in-flight planning and decision-making, inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, and poor judgment by the pilot in command. The subsequent collision with a utility pole and terrain were consequential events.