Preflight Fueling and Inspection
Prior to departure, 20 gallons of fuel were added to the amount remaining from a 3.7-hour two-leg flight. The aircraft had undergone an annual inspection at the previous location. An engine run was performed after the inspection, but the pilot did not account for the fuel consumed during that run when determining the total fuel quantity before departure.
Weather Briefing and En Route Flight
The pilot received a weather briefing but did not request winds aloft. During the en route portion of the flight, the pilot was required to deviate from the planned route and did not lean the fuel/air mixture to conserve fuel.
Engine Problems and Diversion
When the flight was near the planned destination, the engine sputtered. The pilot immediately repositioned the fuel selector to the opposite tank. The flight continued, and upon arrival at the destination airport, the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 23. However, the pilot became disoriented.
Final Approach and Landing
The engine sputtered again and then quit. The pilot attempted to land on a taxiway.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank contained about 1/2 gallon of fuel, and the right fuel tank contained about 1/3 gallon of fuel.