What happened
The flight was proceeding normally until the aircraft reached its cruising altitude. Just after leveling off at 2000 feet, the pilot initiated a descent for landing. During this phase of the flight, the engine began to exhibit irregular operation before completely stopping. With power lost, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing in an adjacent field. The aircraft landed downwind and subsequently struck a wire fence, which caused it to flip over.
The investigation
Following the accident, Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the wreckage of the aircraft. Their physical inspection revealed that one fuel tank was empty while the other contained only a minimal amount of fuel. To determine if a mechanical defect contributed to the event, the FAA conducted a test run of the engine. This test revealed no discrepancies or mechanical faults with the powerplant itself.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was the depletion of usable fuel. The pilot failed to ensure adequate fuel quantity for the planned flight, resulting in the engine stopping due to fuel starvation rather than a mechanical failure.