Flight Details
The flight was a student solo cross-country training mission. The aircraft departed with full fuel, providing an estimated endurance of approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. The actual duration of the flight was 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, the alternator failed. The student pilot did not recognize the alternator failure. Subsequently, the LORAN navigation system, which the student was using, failed. The student then switched to the VOR navigation system, which also failed. After these failures, the student noticed that the fuel gauges indicated low fuel levels and believed the aircraft was running out of fuel.
Outcome
The student pilot attempted to land on a rural road. During the landing, the aircraft went off the side of the road and into a ditch.