What happened
While performing a glider tow, the pilot of a Cessna (type not specified) entered a climb to reach an altitude sufficient for the glider to release from the tow line. Upon reaching 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine abruptly lost power. The glider successfully released from the tow line, and the pilot maneuvered the aircraft toward a road to perform a forced landing.
During the landing roll, the left wing of the aircraft struck a sign located on the side of the road, causing the aircraft to ground loop. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel system and engine performance following the accident. Several ounces of fuel were drained from the gascolator, and less than a pint of fuel was recovered from the carburetor; no anomalies were noted in these samples. The fuel tank was found to be empty, but there was no evidence of an in-flight leak from the tank or the fuel strainer.
The engine was tested and started without difficulty, performing normally across various power settings. Records indicated the aircraft had been flown for 1.4 hours since its last refueling. Based on manufacturer specifications, the engine consumes approximately 23 gallons per hour at maximum power and 19 gallons per hour at 2,500 rpm. The flight duration was approximately 30 minutes, which would have required roughly 9.5 gallons of fuel.