Incident Overview
During a ferry flight, the pilot became disoriented. He spotted a water tower in the town of Glenwood, Arkansas, and determined that he was approximately 35 miles southeast of his intended destination.
Pilot Actions
After identifying his position, the pilot turned the aircraft toward the destination. He reported that the fuel gauge indicated between one-quarter and one-half full at that time.
Fuel Status and Engine Failure
Approximately seven minutes after turning toward the destination, the engine quit. Subsequent reports from state police and the pilot's father indicated that the aircraft had run out of fuel.
Findings
The aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot's disorientation and reliance on the fuel gauge reading likely contributed to the fuel mismanagement, though the exact chain of events leading to fuel exhaustion was not specified in the initial report.