What happened
The pilot was conducting his first solo flight in the Cessna model aircraft, specifically practicing landings. While on final approach at approximately 700 feet above the ground, both engines ceased operation. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane in a field located short of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft; the pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion. During the post-accident inquiry, the pilot admitted that he had not performed a visual check of the fuel tanks and had failed to utilize the auxiliary fuel boost pumps.
Upon inspection, the right main fuel tank contained only 3/4 of a gallon, while the left main fuel tank contained 3 1/4 gallons. The investigation also identified significant inaccuracies in the aircraft's instrumentation: the right fuel tank gauge indicated approximately 25 gallons more than was actually present, and the left main fuel tank gauge indicated approximately 15 gallons more than the actual quantity.