What happened
During a cross-country flight, the airplane encountered a complete loss of engine power while operating at cruise altitude. At the time the power failure occurred, the aircraft had been airborne for five hours and fifty minutes. Unable to maintain altitude or reach a suitable airfield, the pilot executed an emergency landing on a curved road.
During the forced landing sequence, the airplane struck a road sign and a fence before coming to a stop. The impact caused damage to the airframe, but the primary issue remained the cessation of engine operation.
The investigation
Investigators examined the accident site and the aircraft to determine the cause of the power loss. A visual inspection of the crash location revealed no evidence of fuel spillage on the ground, suggesting the tanks were empty or nearly empty rather than ruptured during impact.
A mechanical examination of the airplane confirmed the lack of fuel. Only traces of fuel were found in the right wing tank. The left wing tank contained approximately a half pint of 100LL aviation gasoline. This minimal quantity was insufficient to sustain engine operation, confirming that the aircraft had exhausted its fuel supply during the long cruise phase.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was the depletion of usable fuel. The duration of the flight exceeded the available fuel capacity or planning allowances, resulting in a total loss of power. The subsequent forced landing on public infrastructure caused additional damage to the aircraft upon impact with roadside obstacles.