What happened
The pilot operated the aircraft on two previous occasions, with another pilot flying it once before the subject pilot initiated a subsequent flight. During this third flight, the pilot contacted approach control and reported that he believed the aircraft was out of fuel. Consequently, an off-airport landing was attempted.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators examined the aircraft to determine the status of the fuel system. The inspection revealed that there was less than one gallon of fuel remaining in the tanks. Despite this depletion, the aircraft was recovered and subjected to further testing. When the engine was restarted using the aircraft's internal fuel system, it operated normally.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot's decision to continue the flight resulted in the depletion of usable fuel, necessitating an emergency landing away from the airport. The mechanical integrity of the engine was not compromised by the event.