Flight Details
During a return flight from McKinney to Ozona, Texas, the aircraft's engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot had previously flown the same aircraft from Ozona to McKinney on the day before the accident, logging 2.4 hours of flight time.
Fuel Planning
On the day of the accident, no fuel was available at the departure airport. The pilot planned a fuel stop at Abilene, Texas. However, while in cruise flight and after not encountering anticipated quartering headwinds, the pilot calculated that the direct flight time to Ozona would be 2.5 hours. Based on this calculation, he decided to continue directly to Ozona without stopping for fuel.
Engine Power Loss and Forced Landing
Approximately 20 miles northeast of Ozona, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing roll, the wings impacted scrubby trees. The pilot later reported to an FAA inspector that he had run out of fuel.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he had flown the same route before without refueling. However, he noted that the aircraft's engine had been changed since that previous flight, and he had not anticipated the higher fuel burn rate of the new engine.