What happened
On the evening of the accident, a Cessna (type not specified in source) departed from IXD for 7W5, a flight spanning 519 nautical miles. The return flight departed at 2020 CDT. Approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported that the engine began running rough. In response, the pilot activated the fuel boost pump and switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank. After approximately two minutes of operating on the left tank, the engine failed.
The pilot executed a forced landing into a grassy area located adjacent to a well-lit street. During the landing rollout, the aircraft's wing struck a tree branch, resulting in substantial damage. The impact with the terrain occurred at approximately 0007 CDT, roughly 3.8 hours after departure. There were no fatalities reported.
The investigation
An inspection of the fuel tanks revealed that the tanks were dry. While the pilot estimated a fuel consumption rate of approximately 12 gallons per hour, the aircraft's Owner's Handbook indicated a consumption rate of 14.1 gallons per hour at 75% power and 6,000 feet pressure altitude. The aircraft had a total fuel capacity of 60 gallons with 5able fuel of 54 gallons. Prior to the flight, the aircraft had been topped off with 38.56 gallons of fuel.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes into the flight.
- A passenger noted that the first tank ran dry roughly 40 miles from the destination and suggested landing at a nearby airport, but the pilot believed there was sufficient fuel to reach the destination.
- The investigation confirmed fuel exhaustion as the condition of the tanks upon inspection.