What happened
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight that began in Norfolk, Virginia, with stops planned for Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, and Farmville, Virginia, before returning to Norfolk. Following takeoff from Rocky Mountain Airport, the pilot turned the aircraft to the incorrect magnetic heading. The pilot remained unaware of the navigational error for approximately three hours.
During the flight, the pilot contacted personnel at the Farmville Airport. Based on the pilot's description of the terrain below, airport staff believed the aircraft was positioned just outside Farmville, with the airport located beyond the city the pilot was overflying. As the pilot attempted to navigate toward the described airport, the engine failed.
The pilot performed a forced landing in a university parking lot near Lynchburg, Virginia, which is located 40 nautical miles west of Farmville. During the descent and landing, the aircraft struck a hedge and an unoccupied vehicle before coming to a rest. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Post-accident investigations into the engine failure revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, while only one gallon of fuel remained in the right tank.