Incident Overview
The aircraft was on a night cross-country flight when it exhausted its fuel before reaching the intended destination. The pilot informed air traffic control of the loss of engine power when approximately 20 miles from the destination.
Forced Landing Sequence
Without engine power, the pilot executed a deadstick landing on a highway. During the landing rollout, the aircraft struck a bridge divider. There was no post-impact fire, and no injuries were reported among any occupants.
Post-Incident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be a total loss of engine power resulting from fuel exhaustion, attributed to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and misjudgment of the fuel supply. The event was categorized as a forced landing and an in-flight collision with terrain during the landing flare/touchdown.