What happened
The pilot had previously completed this specific flight route five times. However, three deviations occurred during this particular trip: the refuelers did not top off the fuel tanks as requested, the aircraft had to return to the departure airport because the right wing fueling door was left open, and the flight encountered unexpectedly strong headwinds.
Approximately nine minutes before reaching the destination, the engine ceased operating. The pilot performed an emergency landing in a vacant field. The pilot was not injured, though one passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Postcrash examination of the aircraft and its various components revealed no mechanical malfunctions. Upon inspection, investigators found that the fuel tanks contained no fuel. Following the accident, the pilot informed the FAA that the cause was running out of gas.