Incident Details
According to the pilot, while returning from a personal cross-country night flight, he encountered weather conditions that required a diversion. The pilot stated that he did not refuel before departing because he had calculated that there was sufficient fuel for the return flight.
Upon arriving at his intended destination, the pilot found the airport was fogged in. He spent approximately half an hour in the general area assessing the situation and checking another private airstrip. Subsequently, he decided to divert to another airport known to have visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
Forced Landing
Before reaching the alternate airport, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a soft, plowed field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over.
The pilot reported that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. He had not refueled because he believed the fuel on board was adequate for the planned flight.