What happened
During a nighttime cross-country flight, an aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power while en route to its destination. Approximately 20 miles from the intended arrival point, the pilot notified air traffic control regarding the engine failure.
Without engine power, the pilot performed a deadstick landing on a highway. During the descent and touchdown, the aircraft struck a bridge divider. Despite the impact with the terrain, there was no post-crash fire, and there were no reported injuries following the incident.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft revealed that the fuel tanks were completely dry at the time of the landing. The investigation identified two primary contributing factors regarding the pilot's actions: an inadequate preflight inspection and a failure to properly manage the fuel supply. Ultimately, the incident was caused by the pilot misjudging the remaining fuel supply, leading to engine starvation during the cruise phase.