Incident Summary
A student pilot conducting a cross-country training flight experienced fuel exhaustion at approximately 3,500 feet. The pilot reported that when the engine lost power, he contacted approach control on frequency 121.5 but did not have sufficient altitude to reach an airport. The aircraft executed a forced landing in a corn field.
Aircraft and Fuel Details
The aircraft's usable fuel capacity is 24.5 gallons. At 2,400 RPM and 4,000 feet, the aircraft consumes 6 gallons per hour. The source notes that many factors can alter fuel consumption, including leaning technique and engine condition. The engine had accumulated 1,372 hours of flight time. The pilot flew for more than 4 hours prior to the loss of engine power.
Forced Landing
The forced landing occurred in a corn field after the engine power loss. No further details about the landing or post-landing conditions were provided.