What happened
The incident involved a student pilot operating an aircraft on a solo cross-country flight. During the cruise portion of the journey, the engine lost power, necessitating an emergency procedure. The pilot executed a forced landing into an open field. Upon impact, the airplane nosed over, sustaining damage to the forward section of the airframe.
The investigation
Following the accident, the aircraft was examined to determine the cause of the engine failure. Mechanics and investigators found no mechanical anomalies or defects that would explain the loss of power. The inspection focused on the engine systems, fuel lines, and other critical components, all of which appeared functional prior to the event.
Findings
The examination of the fuel system revealed a critical deficiency in the remaining fuel supply. There was approximately one quart of fuel left in each tank at the time of the incident. This quantity is significantly less than the manufacturer's listed unusable fuel capacity for the aircraft. The lack of usable fuel led to fuel exhaustion, which caused the engine to stop producing power. The pilot was not injured during the landing sequence, although the aircraft sustained substantial damage from the nose-over impact.