Accident Overview
During a cross-country flight, the pilot was cruising toward the destination airport when the engine ceased operation. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field; however, during the landing, the airplane collided with a tree.
Post-Accident Inspection
An FAA inspector examined the airplane and observed that both fuel tanks were empty. The airplane was subsequently removed from the field. The FAA conducted a successful engine start and run-up, confirming that the engine operated normally when supplied with fuel.
FAA Findings
The FAA report stated: "Pilot miscalculated flight time flown during a cross country flight." This indicates that the pilot's estimation of the flight duration was incorrect, leading to fuel exhaustion.