Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported the engine lost total power while he was on approach to his destination airport. According to the pilot, he attempted to restart the engine by switching fuel tanks, but he may have forgotten to engage the boost pump, and the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot then conducted a forced landing on a freeway, during which the right and left wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank contained no usable fuel, the right fuel tank had visible but unknown quantity of fuel. After the airplane was recovered from the freeway, a functional engine test run, with the right fuel tank selected, was completed with no anomalies noted. After the accident, the pilot stated that he should have incorporated better fuel management techniques. The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel starvation.