What happened
During the return leg of a solo cross-country flight, a student pilot was unable to find anyone available to refuel his aircraft before departure. Although the pilot's flight plan indicated that there was sufficient fuel to complete the trip, he had intended to refuel as a precautionary measure.
While flying approximately 5 miles northeast of the destination airport, the engine began to sputter and eventually stopped running. The pilot attempted to execute a forced landing in a nearby field. During the maneuver, while attempting to avoid powerlines, the pilot stalled the aircraft.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted, which revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunction occurring prior to the impact. During the investigation, authorities drained approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel from each fuel tank.