Flight and Diversion
The pilot departed at 1130 for a cross-country flight with 40 gallons of fuel on board. He anticipated the flight would take 3 hours and noted having 4 hours of fuel on board. During the flight, he had to divert around his planned route due to inclement weather.
Engine Failure and Landing
When the pilot was about 1 mile from the airport, he entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. At that point, the engine lost power. Determining that he could not reach the runway, the pilot landed on an adjacent road at 1450.
Fuel Status and Post-Landing Examination
The pilot reported that the fuel gauge read empty while on the approach. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank was completely dry. Additionally, no fuel was found in the fuel lines or the fuel flow divider. When 4 gallons of fuel was added to the airplane, the engine started without hesitation and ran continuously.