Incident Overview
A solo student pilot and aircraft owner was conducting the second leg of a round-trip cross-country flight when the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the nose landing gear struck a dike, causing the airplane to flip to an inverted position.
Fuel Management Errors
Prior to departing on the return leg, the pilot did not refuel the airplane. Post-accident examination revealed no physical evidence of fuel at the accident site, nor any compromise to the integrity of the fuel system. The airplane's total fuel capacity was 39 gallons, with 37.5 gallons usable. After the accident, approximately 2 gallons of fuel were drained from the tanks.
Performance Calculation Discrepancy
The student pilot based his fuel consumption estimate on a cruise performance of 4.7 gallons per hour at a pressure altitude of 8,000 feet. However, the performance chart for the airplane model indicates a fuel burn rate of 4.9 gallons per hour. Additionally, the pilot did not calculate the climb performance required to reach the intended cruise altitude.
Pilot's Reflection
When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated, "I could have topped off the tanks before the return trip."