Summary
A pilot on a cross-country flight experienced fuel exhaustion and executed a forced landing in a soybean field, during which the airplane nosed over. The event occurred after a series of unsuccessful attempts to refuel.
Narrative
The pilot made one quick en route stop and then decided to make a second stop to refuel and check the weather. Upon landing at the second airport, the pilot discovered that the airport had run out of fuel. Personnel at that airport informed the pilot of another nearby airport that had recently installed a new fuel pump. Upon arriving at that airport, the pilot located only one pump, which dispensed diesel fuel. Consequently, the pilot departed for a third airport where fuel was known to be available.
Approximately five miles from that airport, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that the right fuel tank quantity indicator showed one-quarter of a tank, while the left fuel tank quantity indicator was bouncing between one-quarter and empty. Due to nearby obstructions, the pilot elected to land on a small dirt road within a soybean field. During the landing approach, the pilot lowered the flaps, but they did not extend fully. The pilot noted there were trees and a plow at the end of the road.
As the airplane touched down, the pilot heard the flap motor running. In the pilot's words: "As the trees ahead became closer I could sense that I had too much speed to stop in what I thought might be a safe distance from the trees and knew I had to turn, at the last moment and go into the soybean rows to dissipate the forward speed." Once in the field, the airspeed decreased and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported having flown a Hobbs time of 3.7 hours during the trip.