Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed during a forced landing after losing engine power. The engine failure occurred during the landing approach following a four-hour cross-country flight. Prior to this, another pilot had flown the aircraft locally for over an hour, resulting in a cumulative flight time of more than five hours since the last refueling.
Aircraft Fuel Capacity and Consumption
The aircraft had a usable fuel capacity of 40 gallons and consumed at least 8 gallons per hour, depending on operating conditions.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system. A small amount of fuel was found in the fuel tanks and the carburetor float bowl, but no fuel was detected in the gascolator or the related fuel lines.
Engine Test
The engine was refueled and subsequently run on a test stand, where it operated successfully.
Witness Statement
A passenger reported that he and the pilot had noted the fuel gauges indicating a low fuel state near the end of the flight.