Flight Details
The pilot was conducting the second leg of a cross-country flight. Before departure, both fuel tanks were filled to capacity, providing 48 usable gallons, which the pilot estimated would allow for about 4.8 hours of flight time. The second leg lasted 3 hours and 35 minutes (3.58 hours). Unable to purchase fuel at the intermediate stop, the pilot calculated that 1.22 hours of fuel remained, which he believed was more than enough to cover the 65-mile distance to another airport with fuel available.
Engine Failure and Emergency Landing
Approximately 20 minutes into the subsequent flight, the engine began running rough. The pilot switched fuel tanks, which restored normal engine operation. However, as he prepared to divert to an alternate airport, the second tank ran dry and the engine quit. The pilot executed an emergency landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane touched down, bounced, and struck two small trees. It then hit a raised driveway, was launched back into the air, and struck the ground, shearing off both the front and left main landing gear. The aircraft came to rest upright after sliding through a barbed wire fence.
Damage and Investigation
An FAA inspector confirmed that both fuel tanks contained no fuel. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings. Additionally, the inspector noted a homemade placard located above the fuel gauge panel that read, "FUEL GAGES MAY INDICATE AS MUCH AS 2 1/2 GALLONS WHEN TANKS ARE EMPTY." The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident that would have prevented normal operations.