Incident Overview
During a cross-country vacation flight, the commercial pilot and his private pilot wife encountered engine roughness and subsequent power loss. While executing an emergency descent, the pilot successfully restarted the engine and initiated a climb to select a more suitable landing site. However, the engine lost power again, and a second restart attempt failed.
Emergency Landing
The pilot executed an emergency landing to the west on a gravel road. A gusty crosswind from the north was present during the landing. During the landing roll, the pilot reported losing directional control, causing the aircraft to depart the right side of the road. The aircraft subsequently crossed a ditch, resulting in damage.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank contained no fuel, and the left fuel tank held less than two quarts of fuel. An operational check of the engine found that it started and ran normally.