20020114000409A

(-23) The pilot ran low on fuel after the weather had deteriorated and he was unable to land at his intended destination. After seeking assistance from oakland ARTCC, he decided to make an emergency landing on a road prior to fuel depletion. He landed in an easterly direction on sr 120 approximately 5 miles east of Groveland, CA. After touchdown, the right wing collided with a vehicle that was coming in the opposite direction. The aircraft then went off the road and hit a tree causing substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The vehicle suffered minor damage and there were no injuries to the occupants. The pilot's head struck the right windshield and he suffered a concussion, facial lacerations, and a cut on his left leg. He was wearing his seatbelt but the aircraft did not have a shoulder restraint. The pilot was treated at a local hospital and released on the same date. The pilot reported that the engine was running throughout approach and landing. Post accident investigation indicated there was either no fuel or an indectable amount of residual fuel in the two tanks. Witnesses stated that fog formed less than 5 minutes after the accident with visibility of less than 500.' (.19) on January 14, 2002, about 1450 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N3624R, operated by the owner/pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Groveland, California, when it collided with ground obstructions. The forced landing was precipitated by imminent fuel exhaustion. The private rated pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure point for the personal flight operating under 14 CFR part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at truckee, California, about 0945, and was destined for tulare, California. When the pilot arrived in the tulare area he was confronted with a low stratus cloud condition. He diverted to pine mountain lake, California, and landed. He contacted an operator at the tulare airport, who told him that there were visual flight operations there with cloud bases about 1,500 to 2,000 feet. He departed pine mountain lake and proceeded towards tulare. Unable to descend through or maneuver around the stratus, he returned to pine mountain lake, which was now covered by the stratus deck, as were other local airports. Realizing he was now too low on fuel to reach an airport in visual conditions, he contacted oakland air traffic control center and requested assistance. The center provided vectors towards airports, but due to the weather conditions, the pilot was unable to find the airports. The consensus was to land the airplane as soon as possible and before fuel exhaustion. The pilot spotted a forestry camp with a windsock near highway 120, about 4 miles east of Groveland. He was successful in landing on the highway; however, the highway had a curve that prevented him from seeing an on-coming vehicle. He attempted to avoid the vehicle but the wing tip clipped it, causing him to lose control and collide with trees.