What happened
The flight service station at Paso Robles received a radio transmission from the pilot indicating that the aircraft had exhausted its fuel supply. This report was made while the aircraft was approximately five miles south of the Paso Robles airport.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators examined the wreckage to determine the status of the fuel system. The inspection revealed that both wing fuel tanks contained less than one gallon of fuel in each tank.
Further examination looked for signs of mechanical failure or leakage. No evidence of any fuel leaks was observed near the carburetor or the fuel tanks. Additionally, the structural integrity of the fuel tanks was found to be uncompromised.
Findings
The primary factor leading to this event was fuel exhaustion. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had depleted its usable fuel supply during flight. The lack of observed leaks and the intact condition of the fuel tanks suggest that the loss of power was due to depletion rather than a mechanical failure or spillage.