Incident Summary
A pilot flying to Canyonlands, Utah, encountered a storm over the destination airport and diverted toward Delta, Colorado. Approximately 10 miles from Delta, another storm was encountered, prompting a further diversion toward Grand Junction, Colorado. Before reaching the airport, the engine lost power due to a lack of fuel.
Aircraft and Fuel Details
The pilot reported that the aircraft had been airborne for about 3 hours and 15 minutes, with fuel consumption of approximately 14 gallons per hour. At takeoff, the pilot stated the aircraft had 46 gallons of fuel on board. After the power loss, the pilot noted that 'just under a quarter of a tank of gas' remained.
Forced Landing and Damage
During the forced landing, the aircraft struck a dike as the pilot attempted to bounce over it. The landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft damaged a fence and a corn field. The pilot reported that the aircraft had not been flown for approximately four years, and rust was present in the fuel lines and filter. The pilot believed that the rust caused fuel starvation, and that flushing the fuel system would have prevented the power loss.