What happened
The aircraft was refueled to full capacity at Longmont, Colorado. According to performance data, this amount of fuel should have supported approximately 3.6 hours of flight time under normal consumption rates. The pilot flew the aircraft for 1.3 hours to Fowler, Colorado, where it remained parked for one week.
Upon departing Fowler for Albuquerque, New Mexico, the engine lost power after 1.3 hours in flight. The pilot initiated an emergency landing on an interstate highway. During this landing, the right wing of the aircraft collided with a bridge railing.
The investigation
An examination of the event determined that the loss of power was caused by fuel exhaustion. The pilot reported conducting a visual inspection of the fuel tanks during the preflight check at Fowler. He noted the presence of fuel in both tanks but did not determine the specific quantity. Additionally, the pilot stated that the fuel gauges were unreliable. He believed that fuel had been stolen from the aircraft while it was parked in Fowler.