Incident Summary
A pilot experienced a loss of engine power while on approach to the destination airport. The flight had been in progress for 2.8 hours at the time of the incident.
Investigation Findings
Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel cell was empty. The pilot reported having topped off the 40-gallon fuel tank before departure. Performance data for the airplane, as well as the pilot's recent operating experience, indicated that sufficient fuel should have been aboard for the planned 355 nautical mile flight.
Fuel Status
Despite the pre-departure fueling, the fuel cell was found empty after the incident. The discrepancy between the expected fuel quantity and the actual empty tank remains unexplained in the available information.
Operational Context
The flight duration of 2.8 hours before the power loss was consistent with typical fuel consumption rates for the airplane, given the fuel capacity and distance flown. However, the reason for the fuel exhaustion has not been determined from the provided facts.