What happened
The private pilot, who had accumulated approximately 153 hours of flight time, along with a passenger, planned a crosscountry flight. After flying for about three hours, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing in a grass field. During the rollout phase of the landing, the aircraft collided with a fence.
Findings
The pilot reported that at the time of the mishap, both wing tanks' fuel gauges registered 1/4 full. This indicates a potential discrepancy between the fuel quantity indicated by the gauges and the actual usable fuel available to the engine, or an issue with the fuel system preventing delivery despite remaining fuel.
Safety message
Pilots should be aware that fuel gauge readings may not always accurately reflect the amount of usable fuel in the tanks. Regular cross-checks of fuel quantity using multiple methods are essential to prevent fuel exhaustion.