Preflight and Initial Flight
During preflight, the pilot observed fuel in the right tank at the point where the bottom met the outboard vertical wall, estimating 13 gallons. In the left tank, fuel was level with a point about 2 inches from the outboard vertical wall, estimated at 7-8 gallons. The pilot then flew a 30-minute flight to Sandusky, Ohio, to pick up a passenger.
Second Takeoff and Engine Failure
During the second takeoff under dark night conditions, the pilot told the passenger to expect the engine to quit; he planned to run the left tank dry and save the right tank for the approach. About 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine quit. The pilot switched tanks, and the engine restarted for a few minutes, then quit again while climbing through 7,700 feet.
Forced Landing and Impact
The pilot performed a forced landing. Noticing wires in his flight path, he dove sharply to avoid them but struck a lower set of wires on approach to a field.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left and right fuel tanks were intact and each contained about 1/2 quart of fuel. The airplane's usable fuel capacity was 48 gallons, and according to range charts, the engine's fuel consumption rate was 8.1 gallons per hour at 70% power. The airplane had been flown about 5.91 hours since its last refueling.