Narrative
The pilot departed Manhattan, Kansas, and flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota. During a refueling stop at Minneapolis, he added 10 gallons of fuel to the left main tank. The pilot stated that both main tanks were full, the right auxiliary tank was empty, and there was an estimated 5 gallons in the left auxiliary tank.
On the return flight to Manhattan, the pilot used all of the fuel in the right tank before switching to feed from the left tank. The engine failed when the aircraft was approximately 4 miles from Manhattan. The pilot performed a forced landing in a plowed field, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Examination Findings
A post-accident examination revealed that there was no fuel in either the left or right main tanks. The fuel selector was found in the left main tank position.