Accident Sequence
The pilot planned a nonstop flight from Houston, Texas, to Phoenix, Arizona. During the trip, he encountered fluctuating headwinds and miscalculated the aircraft's endurance. Fuel exhaustion occurred 8 miles from Tucson, Arizona, prompting the pilot to execute a successful nighttime forced landing on Interstate Highway 10.
Takeoff Incident
After refueling with the assistance of local law enforcement officers, the pilot and his passenger took off from the highway. As the aircraft accelerated to between 40 and 50 knots, it drifted from the center of the highway, and its wing collided with a nearby mesquite tree. Despite the impact, the aircraft remained airborne, and the pilot continued flying to his intended destination, where he landed without further incident.