The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's (ATSB) investigation report into a privately owned Cessna 206 aircraft, registered VH-KRR, has revealed the engine stopped and the pilot crashed into terrain about 33km west of Nowra Airport, in bushland near Touga, in the Morton National Park on October 16.

The pilot, believed to be a 22-year-old man, landed the aircraft at Cootamundra Airport about 9.43am after leaving Bankstown about 8am as part of a solo return training flight.

The report indicates the pilot taxied to the parking bay, shut down the engine and dipped the fuel tanks to report 100 litres remained in the right tank and 85 litres in the left, which indicated about 12 litres less fuel remaining in the tanks than the pilot expected.

The aircraft departed Cootamundra on a planned track to Bankstown via Rugby and Bindook about 10.22am.

The pilot observed the aircraft had deviated from the planned track about 11am and attempted to track direct to Bindook.

The aircraft, however, took up a heading of about 120 degrees to further deviate from the planned track.

The engine surged and stopped about 11.14am, 5500 feet above ground level, as the pilot conducted emergency checks and sighted a suitable landing area.

The aircraft came into contact with trees about 50m short of the intended landing site to cause substantial damage.

The pilot sustained only a minor injury.

The report indicates the aircraft owners attended the accident site the next day and reported about seven litres of fuel remained in the right tank and none in the left.

"This incident highlights the importance of thorough pre-flight planning and monitoring and re-assessing actual versus planned flight tracks and aircraft fuel consumption," the ATSB report stated.

The ATSB is an independent Commonwealth Government statutory agency.