What happened
The aircraft executed a forced landing on a highway surface after the engine ceased operation. This event occurred less than one hour into the flight time following departure. During the landing sequence, the wings sustained damage.
The investigation
Following the accident, an FAA maintenance inspector conducted a physical examination of the fuel system components. The inspector opened the drains located on both main fuel tanks and drained them to assess remaining contents. Only approximately one-third of a pint of fuel was collected from each tank. Subsequent inspection of the fuel lines and carburetor confirmed that no fuel remained in these components.
Findings
The primary finding was the complete depletion of usable fuel within the aircraft's system. The minimal amount of residual fuel found in the main tank drains, combined with the absence of fuel in the lines and carburetor, indicates the engine stopped due to lack of supply rather than mechanical failure or contamination.