What happened
Following a refueling that left the Cessna with 43.1 gallons of fuel, the pilot departed at 1645 for a return cross-country flight. Approximately twenty miles from the intended destination, the engine began to run roughly. The pilot attempted to remedy the situation by applying carburetor heat, which temporarily stabilized the engine.
However, at 2012, the engine stopped completely. The aircraft subsequently impacted the terrain in a partially wooded field located about 3 miles north of the destination. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that minimum residual fuel remained in the tanks. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration noted there were no visible fuel stains on the wreckage, suggesting that no fuel had leaked from the tanks or other components during the flight.
According to the pilot's flight planning, 52 gallons of fuel were available for the trip. The aircraft's owner's manual specifies a total fuel capacity of 52 gallons, with 43 gallons being usable. Performance charts in the manual indicated that at an altitude of 5,000 feet, using a 72% power setting and a rich mixture, the engine consumption rate was 12.3 gallons per hour, providing an endurance of 3.5 hours.