What happened
The aircraft was being ferried on a cross-country journey, structured in legs of approximately two hours each. Before beginning the final leg, the pilot refueled the aircraft, determining that 18 gallons were required to complete the segment. The pilot estimated fuel consumption at 5 to 6 gallons per hour.
After flying for 2 hours and 17 minutes, with the destination airport clearly visible, the engine suddenly quit. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing off the airport. Upon inspection by the FAA following the accident, no fuel remained in the aircraft's tanks. The aircraft had a total fuel capacity of 19 gallons.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed no discrepancies with the equipment or systems. A sight fuel gauge was available for the pilot's use to monitor fuel usage during the flight. Despite the availability of this gauge and the relatively short duration of the leg, the tanks were found to be empty.
Findings
The investigation highlighted that there were airports along the line of flight where an en-route stop for fuel could have been accomplished. The pilot's prediction of burn rate did not account for the actual depletion of fuel reserves during the segment.