Forced Landing After Fuel Exhaustion (N282HP)

Flight Details and Fuel Management A pilot with 380 hours of experience reported filling both wing tanks with fuel before departure. After reaching the intended destination, the pilot decided to continue flying on a northerly heading, citing the pleasant night conditions. ## Incident and Forced Landing During cruise flight, the pilot noticed the fuel gauges indicating near-empty levels and consulted a sectional chart to identify a suitable landing location. Approximately four hours and fifteen minutes into the flight, the engine lost power, prompting the pilot to execute a forced landing in a field. ## Accident Site and Investigation During the landing rollout, the aircraft collided with several small trees and a barbed-wire fence. An FAA inspector who responded to the scene found both fuel tanks intact and empty, with no evidence of fuel spills or leaks at the accident site.