Incident Details
A single-engine airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing after experiencing a loss of engine power. The accident occurred during a night cross-country flight.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that after approximately one hour of flight, the engine began to run rough. He activated the carburetor heat, after which the engine operated normally for about one to five minutes. Subsequently, the engine lost power without any warning indications. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, but the airplane ground looped during the rollout.
Inspection Findings
Post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained minimal fuel. No fuel leaks were observed, and no fuel was visible on the ground. The Hobbs meter indicated that the airplane had been flown for 4.9 hours since the last time it was refueled. The airplane has a total fuel capacity of 26 gallons, with 22.5 gallons considered useable.
The airplane is a single-engine model, but further specifics such as make, model, or registration were not provided in the source.