On May 7, 1997, about 0540 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N3976R, registered to Flyinc, was substantially damaged while on approach for landing, near Wilgrove, North Carolina. The private-rated pilot was removed from the wreckage with serious injuries, and taken to a local hospital. Two passengers received minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight had originated at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with an intermediate stop for fuel near Jacksonville, Florida. The flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot had contacted Charlotte Approach Control, and requested assistance to the Wilgrove Airport. The airplane was radar identified, and given the location of the airport. Radar and radio contact was lost, and a short time later, approach control was notified by the police that the airplane had crashed. The airplane impacted in a residential area. There was no damage to property or any injuries to any persons on the ground. Several attempts were made to have the pilot return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and it was received on September 4, 1997. According to his statement they landed at Fernandina Beach Airport, Florida, "to purchase fuel," May 6, 1997. The pilot then stated, "we continued to Ft. Lauderdale...with an approximate arrival around 06:00 P.M. [sic]. When we returned to the FBO around 10:00 P.M. I asked them to fill the plane with fuel and we left going to Charlotte. We stopped at Jacksonville...and asked the FBO to fill the airplane again, and we purchased some food and drinks. The best I recall, when we left Jacksonville, it was approximately 03:00 to 03:30 A.M. After we were airborne is the end of my memory until about 3 1/2 weeks later...." According to the passengers, they were flying back from Fort Lauderdale into Wilgrove when "...[the] motor cut off minutes from runway, started back up again ran for about 20 seconds, shut down again...would not start again." Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel system was not breached, the fuel pump switch was in the "ON" position, and the fuel selector was selected to the left tank. No fuel was found in the tanks, or the fuel lines. The FAA inspector at the crash site stated, "...fuel tanks were checked for contents by dipping the tanks with a stick. No fuel was found. The fuel tanks had not ruptured...and there was no evidence of fuel spillage in the crash area." The fuel lines to the carburetor were disconnected, and "no fuel was noted." About "1 ounce" of fuel was drained from the fuel sediment bowl. The fuel found in the bowl was "clean and free of foreign matter." In addition, the FAA inspector said, "...the last known fuel input was shortly before midnight on May 6, 1997, in Jacksonville, Florida." The engine was examined on May 15,1997, at Eastway Wrecker Service, Charlotte, North Carolina, under the supervision of the FAA. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed no discrepancies. According to the Piper PA-28-180 operator's manual, this model airplane's fuel consumption was about 13.5 gallon per hour (gph). The airplane held 50 gallons total, of which 48 was usable. The distance flown from the last refueling was about 450 miles. The exact time of departure from the uncontrolled airport near Jacksonville was not determined. The pilot's son, a passenger on the flight said that they left Florida about "1100 PM [2300]." The NTSB called the fixed base operator (FBO) at the Fernandina Beach Airport were the airplane had stopped and the manger said that none of his people remember the airplane or the occupants, and that his FBO was probably closed at that time of night.