Flight Details
The pilot departed at night on a cross-country flight. After climbing to 3,500 feet and leveling off about 8 miles from the departure airport, the engine lost power. The pilot selected a lighted street for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees and sustained damage.
Pilot Actions
The pilot did not verify the airplane's fuel load before departing on the cross-country flight. The airplane had been flown 5.3 hours since the last refueling.
Investigation
Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction. No usable fuel was found in the airplane's fuel system, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill. According to the airplane's information manual, the maximum time endurance at 75 percent power was about 5.3 hours.