Fuel Exhaustion During Cruise Flight Leads to Forced Landing Near El Paso, Texas (N8194W)

Incident Overview and Pilot Account During cruise flight, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power caused by fuel exhaustion. The pilot reported encountering unforecasted headwinds that added approximately 30 minutes to the planned flight time, bringing the total flight time to 4 hours. Despite observing fuel gauges reading lower than expected, the pilot believed the aircraft had sufficient fuel to reach West Texas Airport in El Paso, Texas, where a refueling stop was planned. The right fuel tank was depleted first. Fifteen minutes later, after the left fuel tank was selected, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing in rough and uneven terrain located 7 miles southeast of West Texas Airport, El Paso, Texas. ## Post-Accident Examination An FAA inspector examined the accident site and found no evidence of fuel. The inspector reported that the left fuel tank was empty, while the right tank contained approximately 1/4 inch of fuel.