What happened
The private pilot was operating a personal VFR flight that included an unplanned stop at an en route airport before continuing toward the final destination. During the leg to the destination, the pilot estimated that the remaining fuel on board would be sufficient to reach the airport while maintaining a reserve of 35 minutes.
However, the aircraft lost engine power approximately 35 miles from the intended destination. The loss of power was attributed to fuel exhaustion. Consequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing. During this maneuver, the airplane nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of engine power and the subsequent impact with the ground. Examination of the flight data and pilot statements confirmed that the aircraft ran out of fuel before reaching the destination airport.