Flight Details
A student pilot and flight instructor planned a night cross-country flight with a duration of 1 hour. The student pilot reported that there were 2 hours of fuel onboard, and the flight instructor accepted his word. The flight proceeded as planned until the engine lost power as they neared their destination.
Fuel Management
Post-accident interviews revealed that the student pilot had performed the pre-flight inspection. However, he was not familiar with the use of a device to measure the quantity of fuel in the tanks. The flight instructor relied on the student's fuel estimate without verification.
Emergency Landing
After the engine lost power, the pilot identified an airport for an emergency landing. The airport had non-standard, low-intensity runway lights and no rotating beacon. When they finally acquired the field visually, there was insufficient altitude to reach it. The airplane landed in an open field with soft terrain, and subsequently flipped over.
Post-Accident Findings
Investigators determined that the student pilot's preflight inspection did not include a proper fuel quantity check due to unfamiliarity with the fuel measuring device. The flight instructor did not independently confirm the fuel onboard before departure.