What happened
During an emergency medical services mission, an aircraft was being vectored for an instrument approach when the pilot declared an emergency. The pilot reported that the engine had lost power because the aircraft had run out of fuel. While attempting to reach the destination airport, the plane descended through cloud cover and struck trees and terrain before reaching the runway.
Post-accident investigations found only a negligible amount of fuel remaining in the system. Analysis of previous flight legs and refueling records indicated that the aircraft was burning fuel at a rate significantly higher than the manufacturer's specifications. While a predicted 20-knot tailwind may have been factored into the pilot's plan to reach the airport, the aircraft was operating without the mandatory 45-minute reserve required for instrument flight rules.
Findings
Investigators determined that the pilot failed to recognize and compensate for the high fuel consumption rate during the flight. It is believed that more diligent monitoring of the fuel gauges would have revealed the insufficient fuel levels.
Toxicology results confirmed the presence of marijuana metabolites in the pilot's system, which can impair concentration, vigilance, and the perception of time and distance. Additionally, several operational discrepancies were noted regarding the operator. The pilot had exceeded the maximum allowable duty period of 14 hours, having been on duty for over 15 hours. The company's fuel logs were not being regularly monitored, and the operator had failed to conduct a background check on the pilot, despite being aware of prior driving convictions. Furthermore, a passenger acting as a crew member on previous legs of the mission was not properly documented on the load manifest.