Incident Overview
A pilot ferrying an airplane to another airport for repairs encountered difficulties approximately 76 statute miles from the departure point. The flight departed at 0930 on the day of the incident, and the sheriff's department was notified of an accident at 1400 upon their arrival.
Pilot Account
Upon interview, the pilot stated that he had been flying for 2.5 hours and was confused about his location and how he arrived there. He reported making a forced landing after observing that the fuel tank gauge read empty. The landing was conducted on a dirt road.
Landing Sequence
During the landing rollout, the airplane struck a berm, became airborne again, and collided with an obstruction. The aircraft came to rest on its main landing gear.
Fuel Findings
Personnel involved in recovery reported that they removed 2 gallons of fuel from each wing. According to the aircraft manufacturer, the total fuel capacity is 50 gallons, with 24.5 gallons of usable fuel in each tank and 0.5 gallons of unusable fuel per tank. At typical engine settings of 2,300–2,400 rpm, fuel burn is about 10 gallons per hour, providing an endurance of approximately 4.9 hours.
Damage and Reporting
The accident was reported about one month after the event, at which time the airplane was determined to have sustained substantial damage.