Flight and Fueling History
The airplane had flown 4.4 hours since its last refueling. Fueling records indicated the airplane was refueled the day before the accident flight. Another renter pilot subsequently flew the airplane for 1.3 hours without refueling.
Preflight Inspection and Departure
The accident pilot conducted a preflight inspection and checked the left wing tank for fuel by inserting a finger into the filler opening. The right fuel tank was not checked. The pilot noted the left fuel gauge indicated full and the right fuel gauge indicated three-quarters of a tank at departure.
Flight Operations
The pilot flew north to Flagstaff, then returned to the local Phoenix area. While waiting for sunset, the pilot practiced a touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport. During the flight, the pilot observed that the fuel gauge needles were not moving, which he considered a possible indicator of a low fuel state. However, the pilot believed the gauges were inaccurate and elected to continue the flight back to the originating airport, bypassing two airports along the route.
Engine Power Loss and Forced Landing
While northeast of the second possible alternate airport, the engine sputtered for the first time. The pilot decided to continue toward the destination airport, which was 12 miles farther, rather than perform a precautionary landing. Subsequently, the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a clear area. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a small tree.
Time and Fuel Usage
The Hobbs meter readings indicated the pilot flew the airplane for 3.1 hours on the accident flight. Total time since the last refueling was 4.4 hours.