Event Description
A pilot experienced a loss of engine power while approaching a private airstrip for a planned refueling stop. The aircraft subsequently executed a forced landing in a pasture, skidding into a pond. The pilot had been airborne for 4 hours and 10 minutes at the time of power loss.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that he intended to refuel at Short Airport near Eubank, Kentucky. However, the owner of the private strip stated that no fuel was available. When the pilot was approximately five minutes from the airport, the engine quit and could not be restarted. The pilot indicated that he had run out of fuel on the right tank, switched to the left tank, but was unable to regain power before landing in a field.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the aircraft after the event revealed that the fuel selector was positioned on the right tank. The pilot's reported flight time of 4 hours and 10 minutes suggests that fuel exhaustion likely occurred due to improper fuel management, though the investigation did not explicitly state a causal factor.