What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was on a VFR flight from aiken, NC (aik) to Logan, WV (6L4). On decent-approach to 6L4 the engine quit forcing the pilot to make an off airfield landing onto the airport access road causing substantial damage to the aircraft. Post accident investigation revealed that the fuel tank was dry along with the engine fuel system. Four gallons were added to the aircraft engine was run with satisfactory results. (.4) the pilot departed at 1130 for a cross-country flight with 40 gallons of fuel on board. He anticipated that the flight would take 3 hours, and he had 4 hours of fuel on board. During the flight, the pilot had to divert around his planned route for inclement weather. When he was about 1 mile from the airport, he entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and the engine lost power. The pilot determined he could not make it to the runway and landed on an adjacent road, at 1450. The pilot reported that the fuel gauge read empty while on the approach. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tank was completely dry. In addition, no fuel was found in the fuel lines or the fuel flow divider. When 4 gallons of fuel was added to the a irplane, the engine started without hesitation and ran continuously.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM AIKEN, NC (AIK) TO LOGAN, WV (6L4). ON DECENT-APPROACH TO 6L4 THE ENGINE QUIT FORCING THE PILOT TO MAKE AN OFF AIRFIELD LANDING ONTO THE AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DRY ALONG WITH THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM. FOUR GALLONS WERE ADDED TO THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS RUN WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS. (.4) THE PILOT DEPARTED AT 1130 FOR A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH 40 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE ANTICIPATED THAT THE FLIGHT WOULD TAKE 3 HOURS, AND HE HAD 4 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD TO DIVERT AROUND HIS PLANNED ROUTE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT, HE ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DETERMINED HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY AND LANDED ON AN ADJACENT ROAD, AT 1450. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY WHILE ON THE APPROACH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY DRY. IN ADDITION, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES OR THE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER. WHEN 4 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE A IRPLANE, THE ENGINE STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION AND RAN CONTINUOUSLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.