Event Description
Prior to the accident, the aircraft's fuel tanks were filled to capacity. The aircraft was subsequently flown for 0.5 hours before being rented by the accident pilot. No additional fuel was added before the accident flight. The accident flight began with fuel tanks that were not full. After an approximate three-hour flight, the engine stopped running due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot was able to restart the engine for a short interval, but it ceased operation again. The pilot performed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with a palm tree.
Post-Accident Findings
An examination of the aircraft's fuel system was conducted. The fuel tanks were drained, and the resulting measurement showed that they contained 1.5 gallons of fuel. The owner's manual for the aircraft indicates that the unusable fuel quantity for both fuel tanks combined is 1.5 gallons. A review of the aircraft's operational records disclosed that the aircraft had been operated for a total of 3.8 hours since the last refueling event.