Incident Overview
During cruise flight, approximately 25 nautical miles from the final destination, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a soft muddy field. During the landing roll, the aircraft nosed over.
Fuel Status
Post-accident examination revealed no fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he believed the aircraft had been topped off by the fixed-base operator (FBO) prior to departure. However, the aircraft had not been refueled and actually contained approximately 21 gallons of usable fuel at departure.
Weather Deviation
The pilot deviated around weather en route, which extended the estimated time en route by 40 minutes.