On May 6, 1996, a Stinson 108-2 (registration N427C) was involved in an aviation accident near EL Paso, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the unfavorable en route wind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported fuel exhaustion after encountering unexpected winds, forcing a landing on a dirt road. The aircraft bounced, struck a small tree, and came to rest on its nose.
Incident Overview
The pilot reported that at takeoff, the aircraft had 50 gallons of fuel on board. According to the pilot's calculations, this fuel quantity would allow a flight duration of 4.6 hours. The planned flight time was 4.1 hours.
Encountering Unexpected Winds
During the en route phase, the pilot encountered winds that caused the estimated time of flight to extend to 4.7 hours. As a result, the airplane ran out of fuel approximately 8 miles from the destination airport.
Forced Landing
The pilot performed a forced landing on a dirt road. Approximately 300 feet from the touchdown point, the road dropped slightly, causing the airplane to bounce. The aircraft then struck a small tree before coming to rest on its nose.