Incident Overview
A student pilot conducted a departure with fuel tanks approximately half-full, as reported. After being airborne for about 40 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing on soft terrain, during which the airplane nosed over and suffered substantial damage.
Fuel Status and Examination
When the power loss occurred, the pilot noted that the fuel gauges indicated one-quarter full. Subsequent examination of the airplane showed the fuel tanks were empty. There was no evidence of fuel spillage or leakage. A test of the fuel gauges revealed that the gauges correctly indicated empty when the tanks were empty.
Investigation Findings
No mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified beyond the fuel exhaustion. The investigation did not determine why the fuel was consumed faster than expected based on the initial half-full indication and the 40-minute flight time.