What happened
Before departure, the pilot topped off the fuel tanks with a total of 60 gallons of fuel. The flight lasted approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes before the airplane ran out of fuel. The pilot attempted a forced landing on a road; however, the roadway ended before the aircraft could complete its required braking distance. During the landing sequence, the pilot applied heavy left rudder to avoid obstacles including telephone poles, "J" boxes, and a fence.
As a result of the landing, the right main landing gear folded under the fuselage, causing the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer to bend upward. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the fuel tank area by the pilot revealed fuel residue stains inside the fuel door. The aircraft was equipped with "thermos bottle" type fuel caps, and the pilot suspected that fuel had been siphoned from the tanks. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the expected fuel consumption at 19.5 inches of manifold pressure and 2,450 revolutions per minute, while cruising between 6,500 and 7,500 feet, is approximately 13 gallons per hour.