Incident Overview
A pilot-rated passenger, who was also the pilot's flight instructor, flew the airplane to their vacation destination a week prior. The pilot followed by car, carrying supplies. The instructor initially had an estimated 45 gallons of fuel onboard. The first leg of the trip lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes, after which the instructor purchased 40 gallons of fuel. The final leg to the destination took 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Return Flight and Miscommunication
When preparing to return home, the pilot asked the instructor if he had purchased any fuel. The instructor misunderstood, thinking the pilot referred to gasoline for the houseboat, and replied that he had bought 60 gallons. The pilot later stated that he believed there was more fuel available than there actually was at takeoff.
Fuel Management and Engine Failure
Takeoff and climb to 11,500 feet were conducted using the left fuel tank. After 30 minutes, the pilot switched to the right tank, knowing its fuel gauge was unreliable. He drew fuel from the right tank until it ran dry approximately 1 hour later. He then switched back to the left tank and climbed to 13,500 feet. The airplane had been airborne for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Ten to 15 minutes later, the engine sputtered and lost power, with the left fuel gauge indicating 1/3 full. All attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful.
Forced Landing and Damage
The pilot turned and glided toward an airport. While turning final for runway 24, he lost sight of the runway due to the sun in his eyes. He selected a field and touched down 1/4 mile to the right of the runway centerline and 1 mile short of the runway. The landing gear was torn off, and the empennage was extensively damaged. The left wing struck a fence post, breaching the fuel tank, which leaked fuel but not a substantial amount.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot reported using an average fuel consumption rate of 15 gallons per hour for endurance and range calculations and estimated having about one hour's worth of fuel plus reserves. He later admitted that the engine most likely lost power due to fuel exhaustion.