What happened
The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight with the specific objective of depleting the aircraft's fuel supply to facilitate an accurate weight and balance calculation. Prior to departure, the pilot assessed the onboard fuel quantity and determined it was sufficient for the intended trip duration.
Approximately thirty minutes after takeoff, the engine suffered a complete loss of power. In response to the emergency, the pilot selected a nearby field for an off-airport landing. The subsequent touchdown was described as hard, and during the rollout, the airframe collided with a fence post, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft's fuel systems. Both main fuel tanks were found to be completely empty at the time of inspection, confirming that no usable fuel remained in the tanks.
Findings
The primary factor leading to this incident was fuel exhaustion. Despite the pilot's pre-flight assessment that sufficient fuel was available, the actual quantity onboard was inadequate for the duration of the flight. The decision to continue the flight until the engine stopped rather than diverting earlier contributed to the forced landing and subsequent collision with ground obstacles.