Incident
A pilot executed a precautionary landing in a grass field after experiencing low fuel levels during a flight. The aircraft subsequently struck two fences, crossed a road, and came to rest in a shallow creek.
Flight Details
Prior to the incident leg, the pilot had made two stops without refueling. He estimated that 12 gallons of fuel remained when departing Decatur, Alabama. During the flight, the right fuel tank was completely exhausted, prompting a switch to the left tank. As the destination approached, the fuel indication in the left tank showed less than two gallons.
Sequence of Events
Faced with the risk of total fuel exhaustion, the pilot chose to make a precautionary landing in a grass field while engine power was still available. However, he was fast and overshot his intended landing field. He added power but struck a fence at the end of the field. The aircraft then crossed a road, hit a second fence, and finally came to rest in a shallow creek.
According to the Hobbs meter readings, the aircraft had flown 4.6 hours, approximately the maximum expected endurance for the cruise altitudes and power settings used.