Accident Summary
During a cross-country flight, the pilot reported that while in level cruise, the engine surged several times before quitting. The aircraft was headed toward Madera Airport, but insufficient altitude remained to reach the runway. The pilot executed a forced landing in an almond orchard.
Pilot's Report
The pilot had flown 5.6 hours during the trip from Modesto to Redlands and then to the accident site. Prior to departure from Redlands, the pilot purchased 12.6 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline from Redlands Aviation.
Fuel System Examination
Post-accident examination revealed that the left fuel tank was compromised during the accident, while the right fuel tank remained intact. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The right tank contained only residual fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel inlet line to the servo, and no fuel was found in the distributor manifold.
Engine Examination
The engine starter drive was engaged into the starter ring. No engine discrepancies were identified during the examination.