Accident Sequence
The airplane, which had standard fuel tanks with a total capacity of 43.0 gallons (40.0 gallons usable), was filled to capacity before departure. The pilot and a passenger took off and flew for an estimated 4 hours and 14 minutes. Shortly before reaching their destination, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field.
Postaccident Examination
After the accident, examination of the aircraft revealed that both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot acknowledged that he had "run out of gas."
Fuel Calculation
A fuel calculation report from the operator noted that if the pilot had received a full fuel load, flown a straight line, operated the engine at optimal lean, and the engine performed to specifications, the aircraft would have arrived at its destination with 1.8 gallons remaining—equivalent to about 15 minutes of flight. This amount is less than half of the visual flight rules (VFR) minimum fuel reserve and was deemed unsafe for a 450 nautical mile trip. The report concluded, "I think that says it all."