Accident Sequence
At an altitude between 1,500 and 3,000 feet, the airplane's engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot attempted to land in a field. During the landing, the right wing struck the ground, causing the wing to separate from the aircraft. The airplane then cartwheeled and came to rest in an upright position. Several pilots on the Auburn UNICOM frequency heard the pilot report that he was in distress, experiencing engine trouble, and believed he might be out of fuel.
Fuel Examination
After the accident, examination of the airplane's fuel tanks revealed approximately 8 ounces of fuel in the left wing tank and no fuel in the right wing tank. No signs of spilled fuel were found in the accident area. The Hobbs meter reading at the time of the last refueling was 12.4 hours; after the accident, the reading was 16.2 hours, indicating 3.8 hours of operation since the last refueling.
Fuel Calculations
The airplane had a usable fuel capacity of 48 gallons. Based on the calculated burn rate of 12.63 gallons per hour, the fuel consumed over 3.8 hours would be 47.99 gallons, leaving negligible fuel remaining. Examination of the carburetor fuel screen showed it to be clean and free of debris, suggesting no fuel system blockage.