Accident Overview
A pilot was forced to land an aircraft in a field after the engine ceased operating during cruise flight. The incident occurred at an altitude of 7,000 feet. The pilot reported that the engine stopped suddenly, and after briefly restoring power by switching fuel tanks, the engine failed again. He subsequently executed a forced landing to a field.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion. He stated that prior to departure from Shelby County Airport in Alabaster, Alabama, his wife, who was a passenger on the flight, had ordered fuel for the aircraft. However, the fuel was not provided. The pilot reported that he engaged the fuel boost pump and switched to the left fuel tank after the first engine stoppage, which restored power temporarily. Approximately 10 seconds later, the engine stopped again. He switched tanks once more but was unable to restore power.
Fuel Order Miscommunication
An employee at Shelby County Airport confirmed that fuel had been ordered for the accident aircraft, which carried registration N6753U. The employee stated that the linesman responsible for fueling had forgotten the order, and consequently no fuel was added to the aircraft's tanks as requested.
Postaccident Examination
An FAA Inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. The inspection found no breaches in the fuel system. All fuel tanks were described as "bone dry," indicating that the aircraft had no usable fuel at the time of the accident.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion, resulting from the aircraft not being refueled despite a fuel order being placed.