Background
The pilot reported that the pleasure flight originated from Maple Lake, Minnesota, with Little Rock, Arkansas as the intended destination. En route fuel stops were planned.
Flight Details
During the first two legs of the trip, the airplane encountered turbulence and strong, gusty headwinds. Conditions moderated for the third leg. The aircraft departed on the third leg at approximately 1740, with plans to refuel at Springfield, Missouri (SGF).
Fuel Concern
The pilot stated that when the SGF approach controller advised they were 32 miles from the airport, he became concerned about the fuel supply. As they approached within a few miles of the airport, the pilot noticed that the right fuel tank quantity gauge indicated empty, while the left fuel tank gauge showed approximately one-eighth of a tank.
Engine Failure and Impact
A few seconds later, the engine sputtered once and then quit completely. The airplane impacted trees and fell to the ground. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction; the power loss was due to fuel exhaustion.
Investigation
Investigation revealed no evidence of usable fuel in the airplane.