Accident Summary
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight when the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. According to the pilot, while approximately 5 miles south of the destination airport, the engine sputtered once and then stopped completely. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, leading the pilot to execute a forced landing in a field covered with snow.
Post-Accident Examination
Investigators examined the aircraft after the accident. They found no evidence of usable fuel on board. The fuel system was drained, yielding a total of 1.5 gallons of fuel: one gallon from the left fuel tank and half a gallon from the right fuel tank. No fuel was detected in the fuel lines or at the carburetor. The fuel tanks and system were not compromised during the ground impact sequence.
Fuel System Findings
The aircraft manufacturer considers the last 1.75 gallons in each fuel tank to be unusable fuel. The quantity of fuel recovered from the tanks (1.5 gallons total) was less than the unusable amount specified by the manufacturer. This indicates that the fuel that was present in the tanks was not available to the engine.