What happened
Before departing for flight training, a student pilot noted that one fuel tank was full while the other was approximately 1.5 inches below the full mark. The pilot conducted maneuvers near his home airport for about two hours. Following this period, the pilot returned to the airport but did not refuel the aircraft.
The pilot departed a second time and continued practicing maneuvers for approximately 2.2 hours. While returning to the airport, the engine lost all power. The student pilot attempted to divert and glide toward a nearby airport, but ultimately performed a forced landing in a field located about one-half mile from the airfield. During the landing sequence, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage was conducted following the accident. Investigators found that there was no fuel remaining in the fuel tanks or in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage.