What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot departed unknown airport (later identified as psf) enroute to clt (charlote, NC) at approximately 1800 local. Source of navigation unknown (pilot stated he used a hand held GPS but it was never found). After 4 hours enroute, pilot stated he started looking for fuel. Pilot stated he tried (unsucesfully) to turn on lights at an unknown airport, pilot then continued south looking for fuel. Pilot stated he became lost and headed toward city lights (Carlisle, PA) when he saw a airport beacon. Pilot flew toward the beacon at unknown altitude when engine began to sputter and then moments later quit altogether. Pilot stated that the propeller had stopped. Pilot stated he was heading for houses when he noticed the street lights along a suburban road and turned to align with road when the aircraft hit trees and nosed to the ground, coming to rest in the middle of the street.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT DEPARTED UNKNOWN AIRPORT (LATER IDENTIFIED AS PSF) ENROUTE TO CLT (CHARLOTE, NC) AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 LOCAL. SOURCE OF NAVIGATION UNKNOWN (PILOT STATED HE USED A HAND HELD GPS BUT IT WAS NEVER FOUND). AFTER 4 HOURS ENROUTE, PILOT STATED HE STARTED LOOKING FOR FUEL. PILOT STATED HE TRIED (UNSUCESFULLY) TO TURN ON LIGHTS AT AN UNKNOWN AIRPORT, PILOT THEN CONTINUED SOUTH LOOKING FOR FUEL. PILOT STATED HE BECAME LOST AND HEADED TOWARD CITY LIGHTS (CARLISLE, PA) WHEN HE SAW A AIRPORT BEACON. PILOT FLEW TOWARD THE BEACON AT UNKNOWN ALTITUDE WHEN ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND THEN MOMENTS LATER QUIT ALTOGETHER. PILOT STATED THAT THE PROPELLER HAD STOPPED. PILOT STATED HE WAS HEADING FOR HOUSES WHEN HE NOTICED THE STREET LIGHTS ALONG A SUBURBAN ROAD AND TURNED TO ALIGN WITH ROAD WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES AND NOSED TO THE GROUND, COMING TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.