Background
The pilot departed Sky Lake Airport in Waller, Texas, earlier in the day and flew to Houston's Lakeside Airport to obtain fuel additive. He then departed Lakeside Airport on a return flight to Waller.
Sequence of Events
After climbing and leveling off at 1,600 feet MSL, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the descent, he attempted several times to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.
The aircraft touched down in a field, struck a roadway median, and came to rest 237 feet from the initial touchdown point. The fire wall was buckled, and the nose landing gear was bent aft. No evidence of fuel leaks was found.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of usable fuel in either fuel tank, and the fuel strainer contained less than a fourth of a cup of fuel. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator report that he had departed Sky Lake Airport with at least 21 gallons of fuel and could not predict an inflight loss of fuel.