WPR12CA370

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was at the end of a 349-mile flight. When he was 3.5 miles from the destination airport, at 2,300 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine began to sputter, then quit. The pilot was over a neighborhood and realized he was not going to make it to the airport. He identified a dry river bed off to his right, and turned towards that direction. The airplane collided with the top of a tree, which slowed it down. The pilot then pull back on the yoke, the airplane impacted terrain, and flipped over. The pilot said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply. The pilot stated that he was nearing the end of a 349-mile flight. When he was 3.5 miles from the destination airport, at 2,300 feet mean sea level, the engine began to sputter and then quit. The pilot was over a residential neighborhood and realized the airplane was not going to make it to the airport. He turned the airplane right toward a dry river bed; however, the airplane collided with a tree, then impacted terrain, and flipped over. The pilot said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C