Accident Overview
According to the pilot, the fuel tanks were topped off with a total of 60 gallons of fuel before the flight. The pilot stated that he flew for approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes before the "airplane ran out of fuel." He then performed a forced landing to a road, but the road ended short of the required braking distance. To avoid hitting telephone poles, "J" boxes, and a fence, the pilot applied "heavy" left rudder. During the landing, the right main landing gear folded under the fuselage, and subsequently, the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were bent up.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that the airplane was equipped with "thermos bottle" type fuel caps. He believed that fuel was being siphoned out of the tanks, possibly explaining why the fuel was exhausted earlier than expected.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the fuel tank area, conducted by the pilot, revealed some fuel residue stains inside the fuel door. No further details on the examination were provided.
Performance Data
According to the performance section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), the fuel consumption at 19.5 inches of manifold pressure, 2,450 revolutions per minute, and 6,500 to 7,500 feet cruising altitude was approximately 13 gallons per hour. This suggests that the fuel usage during the flight was consistent with the handbook figures, but the pilot's belief of siphoning may have contributed to the fuel exhaustion.