What happened
The pilot departed Scottsdale at 1934 MST for a 13 nautical mile flight intended to reposition the aircraft to its home base. Within minutes of departure, the pilot contacted air traffic control to report that he was six miles out and operating with minimum fuel. He requested that no delay be imposed on his approach.
The pilot subsequently requested clearance to land on Runway 22R and received approval. At 1943 MST, the pilot informed the tower that he would not be able to reach the runway. Both engines had ceased operation due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot executed a forced landing in a level dirt area located one-quarter mile from the approach end of Runway 22R.
The investigation
The pilot reported that the aircraft contained 120 lbs of fuel upon departure from Scottsdale and that no low-fuel warning was received during the flight. According to the pilot's operating handbook, the low-fuel warning light is designed to illuminate when there is less than 60 gallons of fuel in either tank or when there is less than 120 gallons of total fuel on board. The manual also stated that the aircraft burns 170 gallons per hour at 70 percent power.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this incident was fuel exhaustion. The discrepancy between the reported fuel quantity and the warning system activation threshold suggests a potential issue with fuel quantity indication or pilot awareness of fuel consumption rates relative to the warning thresholds.