Flight Sequence
The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, departed Englewood, Colorado, and flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 4.7 hours. At Las Vegas, it took 80 gallons of fuel to fill the tanks. The pilot then continued to Van Nuys, California, in 1.5 hours, where the tanks were topped off again with 25.3 gallons.
The following day, due to favorable tailwinds, the pilot and one passenger planned a nonstop flight from Van Nuys to Aspen, Colorado.
Power Loss and Forced Landing
During descent into Aspen after 3.4 hours of flying, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field approximately two miles from the airport.
Fuel Inspection
After landing, 1.5 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank; the right fuel tank was empty.
Additional Information
The airplane operator reported that recent work had been performed on the fuel filler caps because water had been leaking into the fuel tanks. The operator also reported fuel siphoning from the filler caps. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing these subjects.