Flight Details
A pilot with 288 hours of flight experience was conducting a cross-country flight. He landed at an airport intending to purchase fuel but found the fuel service closed for the day. A man in the terminal building informed the pilot that there would be approximately a one-hour wait for fuel service and a $30.00 "call-out" fee. The pilot decided to fly to another airport roughly 20 miles away to obtain fuel.
Fuel Inspection
Before departing, the pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, including a visual check of both fuel tanks. He used a broom retrieved from the back of a fuel truck to "stick it in the fuel tank to check the level better." The left tank was just under half full, and the right tank was about one-quarter full.
Engine Failure and Landing
Approximately 10 miles from the departure airport, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane in a field.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks were intact and empty. There was no evidence of a fuel spill or leak, and no mechanical deficiencies were noted. The pilot reported making fuel stops along his route. Fueling records indicated the pilot had purchased 23.16 gallons at one stop a few days before the accident and 21.4 gallons on the day of the accident. The airplane was equipped with two standard fuel tanks, one in each wing, with a total fuel capacity of 26 gallons (13 gallons per tank) and a total usable fuel capacity of 22.5 gallons (11.25 gallons per tank). The pilot told a law enforcement official at the accident site that he had run out of fuel.