Incident Overview
A private pilot, who also owned the aircraft, departed with full fuel tanks for a cross-country flight. After flying approximately 95 miles, the pilot began the return leg. During this phase, he reported becoming disoriented and noted that both the wet compass and directional gyro were providing incorrect readings.
Engine Operation and Power Loss
The pilot operated the engine at the red line on the tachometer until 10 minutes before the engine lost power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot then executed a forced landing onto a strip mining access road.
Wreckage Examination
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that only unusable fuel remained in the tanks. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airframe or the engine.
Flight Duration
The pilot reported that the total airborne time was 3 hours and 25 minutes.