Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation, poor fuel consumption calculations, and delay in effecting any remedial action. Contributing to this accident was the pilot inadvertently becoming lost/disoriented and the dark night.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight departed with 10 gallons of fuel toward a mountainous area during a dark night. While enroute the pilot became lost and disoriented. He contacted the tracon and reported a low fuel state. The controller vectored the flight to the nearest airport. The pilot could not identify the airport or turn on the runway lights while circling over the airport. In an attempt to identify the airport, the pilot descended toward the airport. During the descent the airplane struck some power lines. There was no post impact fire although the two passengers sustained burns on their arms from the severed power lines. The investigation revealed that the runway lights activated normally by clicking the microphone using the common traffic advisory frequency as indicated in the airport/facility directory.
Source record
Factual narrative
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