Accident Sequence
The pilot waited two hours at an intermediate stop due to weather before departing for the destination. Approaching Vernal, Utah, the pilot encountered weather again and deviated south, then north, attempting to find a path around it. The pilot reported that approximately one hour's worth of fuel was consumed during these deviations. After assessing the fuel quantity, the pilot determined that it was necessary to land and refuel. There was a layer of fog over the valley and Vernal Airport. The pilot first deviated to Shane, Utah, then to Roosevelt, Utah, and then back northeast toward Vernal. At that point, the pilot noted that seven gallons of fuel remained. While preparing to land at Vernal, the airplane exhausted the fuel in one tank. Approximately four miles southwest of Vernal Airport, the pilot reported that the other tank also ran out of fuel.
The pilot then descended out of the clouds at an altitude of 400 feet above a highway, with mountainous terrain surrounding the area. The pilot observed a plateau ahead and maneuvered the airplane upward before setting it down on the plateau.
Damage
The forced landing resulted in the landing gear being broken aft, and the firewall and bottom fuselage were crushed upward and aft.
Examination
An examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel was present in either fuel tank. The examination of the engine and other airplane systems found no anomalies.