Flight Details
The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight from Elberta, Alabama, to Destin, Florida, and return. The flight included four en route stops for passenger pickups and drop-offs.
Fuel Mismanagement
During one of the en route stops, the pilot checked the fuel level using a homemade dip stick. Based on that check, the pilot believed there was sufficient fuel to reach the final destination. However, the pilot did not know the gallon equivalent per inch of fuel for the dip stick, leading to an inaccurate assessment.
Emergency Landing
Subsequently, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion before the pilot reached the destination airport. The pilot selected the most suitable area for an emergency landing. During the landing, the nose gear dug into soft, wet terrain, causing the aircraft to nose over.
Outcome
The aircraft nosed over as a result of the emergency landing on soft, wet ground.