Incident Overview
The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power during a night flight, necessitating a forced landing. The pilot reported that earlier that day, he had flown from IXD to 7W5, a distance of 519 nautical miles, completing the flight in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Upon arrival, the airplane was refueled, with 38.56 gallons added according to the fuel receipt. The aircraft's total fuel capacity was 60 gallons, of which 54 gallons were usable. The pilot calculated fuel consumption at approximately 12 gallons per hour based on the earlier leg.
Departure and Engine Failure
The return flight departed at 2020 central daylight time. Approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes into the flight, the engine began running rough. The pilot activated the fuel boost pump and switched the fuel selector from the right to the left tank. About two minutes after switching, the engine ran rough again and then failed. The pilot executed a forced landing to a grassy area adjacent to a well-lit street. During the landing rollout, the airplane's wing struck a tree branch, resulting in substantial damage.
Fuel State and Pilot Experience
Inspection revealed that both fuel tanks were dry. The passenger reported that the first tank ran dry roughly 40 miles from the destination and noted that two airports were only a couple of miles ahead. The passenger suggested landing at one of those airports, but the pilot indicated there was enough fuel remaining to reach the destination airport. The pilot had accumulated a total of 3,605 flight hours, with 10 hours in the make and model of the accident aircraft.
Environmental Conditions and Flight Data
The passenger reported that the GPS indicated a slight right-quartering headwind of 7 to 10 knots and an average groundspeed of 130 to 135 knots. The airplane impacted terrain at approximately 0007 CDT, about 3.8 hours after departure. According to the Owner's Handbook, fuel consumption at 75% power at a pressure altitude of 6,000 feet is 14.1 gallons per hour.