Accident Details
A pilot planned a four-hour flight and departed with less than full fuel tanks. Approximately 4 hours and 35 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a residential area.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, an FAA examination revealed that both fuel tanks were empty, and the main fuel strainer contained no fuel.
Fuel Discrepancy
The pilot had calculated the flight based on a fuel burn rate of 9.6 gallons per hour and estimated 50 gallons of fuel on board at departure. However, interviews with the previous pilot indicated that the actual fuel quantity was approximately 44 gallons. At the planned burn rate, this amount would have been exhausted at 4 hours and 35 minutes, consistent with the timing of the power loss.