What happened
The pilot reported refueling the aircraft on November 12, 1984, filling the tanks completely. The tachometer reading at that time was 1766.95 hours. On November 20, 1984, during takeoff, the pilot estimated there were 51 gallons of fuel remaining in the tanks.
The aircraft flew to another location and landed. The pilot left the aircraft for approximately one hour. Upon returning, he took off again. During the flight, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot made a landing in a recently seeded grain field. While rolling on the soft terrain, the aircraft nosed over.
The tachometer reading after the accident was 1768.93 hours. The pilot stated that 30 to 35 gallons of fuel were unaccounted for. No part failure or malfunction was evident.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction prior to the loss of power. The discrepancy in fuel quantity suggested an issue with fuel management or measurement rather than a system leak or engine defect.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot underestimated the amount of fuel consumed during the previous leg of the flight, resulting in insufficient fuel for the subsequent departure. The soft surface of the grain field contributed to the nose-over after touchdown.