Accident Overview
An aircraft experienced a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion while en route from Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, to Cambridge, Maryland. The incident occurred approximately two hours into the return flight, at an altitude of 5,500 feet over Prince Frederick, Maryland, according to the passenger.
Sequence of Events
The pilot selected a private airstrip for the forced landing. The approach was judged to be too high, and touchdown occurred between half and two-thirds down the 1,850-foot runway, as stated by the pilot. The aircraft could not be stopped on the remaining runway surface. An attempt to turn right to avoid trees was unsuccessful.
Fuel System Maintenance
The aircraft had undergone maintenance on the fuel gauges on April 29, 1985. At that time, the left fuel gauge sender was not functioning properly. However, the passenger, who was also a student pilot, reported that the fuel gauges were functioning at the time of the accident.