Incident Overview
A pilot reported that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion while cruising at night on a cross-country flight at 6,500 feet MSL. He declared an emergency with St. Louis Approach and requested vectors to the nearest airport.
ATC Assistance
The controller provided vectors to Bonne Terre Airport, which was about 7 miles away. However, the airport had neither runway lights nor a rotating beacon.
Landing Attempt
The pilot was unable to locate the airport and elected to make a night landing on a roadway. During the landing approach, there was a left curve in the road. While landing in a left bank over the curved road, the left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft ground looped, sustaining damage. The accident occurred about 1 mile from the unlighted airport.
Investigation Findings
An investigation revealed that a lighted airport existed approximately the same distance from where the engine lost power. The pilot stated that during a preflight inspection, he noted the fuel was at or near the bottom of the sleeves (tabs). He thought the tanks were inside the wing skin and that the tabs represented a full fuel level, when actually the fuel tanks were about 1-1/2 inches below the full level. Additionally, he said he encountered unexpected headwinds during the flight.