On October 10, 1996, at 1721 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210A, N9403X, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power at 9,500 feet mean sea level. At the time, the pilot was cruising in the vicinity of the Squaw Valley VOR (navigational aid), near Truckee, California. The pilot declared an emergency and initiated a forced landing on a road. On short final approach, the airplane collided with wires and crashed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from Cameron Park, California, at 1645. The pilot indicated that when he took off the airplane had 25 gallons of fuel in its tanks. He reported that during the flight the "engine suddenly quit," and he was unable to restart it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined the airplane and engine assembly and reported finding no reason for the loss of engine power. An external fuel tank was connected to the airplane, and the engine was successfully test run.