What happened
A student pilot departed from the Broomfield, Colorado airport late at night with the intention of gaining additional night flight experience. The aircraft was loaded with 18 gallons of fuel prior to departure. During the flight, which lasted nearly two hours, the pilot proceeded on approach for landing.
While on final approach, the engine suddenly stopped operating. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. Consequently, the pilot executed an emergency forced landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical status of the aircraft and the fuel state at the time of the event. Examination revealed that the fuel supply had been depleted during the flight. The total duration of the flight consumed the available fuel capacity.