Accident Details
The pilot in command (PIC) reported finding himself low on fuel with an indication of only 5 gallons in each tank. He flew over an airport that had fueling facilities available but chose to divert to Batesville, Arkansas, located 48 miles beyond his present position. The PIC stated that he attempted a precautionary landing east of the Batesville airport. As he turned to land in a field, the engine stopped. The subsequent landing resulted in damage to the aircraft.
Fuel Management
The PIC had calculated during preflight planning that the aircraft had 5.5 hours of fuel. However, the flight terminated at 4.6 hours. Inspection of the fuel tanks confirmed that they were empty. The fuel system gauges were checked and did not show any significant error in the indication.
Investigation Findings
The investigation noted that the PIC's preflight planning should have included a planned fuel stop before needing to use the reserve fuel supply. The pilot's actions led to the fuel exhaustion and subsequent engine failure.