What happened
On October 26, the pilot departed for a 221 nautical mile flight. During the flight, the pilot encountered moderate to heavy turbulence and poor weather conditions, leading to the decision to return to the airport. Approximately 40 minutes after departure, the engine stopped running. The pilot performed several emergency procedures, including switching from the right fuel tank to the left, activating the electric fuel pump, applying full rich mixture, and checking both magnetos. When the engine failed to restart, the pilot executed a forced landing in a field. During the landing, the nose gear of the Cessna (type not explicitly stated, but context implies single-engine) collapsed, leaving the aircraft resting nose-down.
The pilot initially reported that sufficient fuel was visible in both tanks after the landing. However, an FAA inspector examining the aircraft the following morning found the left tank empty and only about one inch of fuel remaining in the right tank. During salvage operations, recovery personnel drained 21 gallons from the right tank, while the left tank contained only approximately one quart. The pilot had previously reported having 46 gallons of fuel on board at departure.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft was conducted at a salvage yard. Investigators found that the fuel lines and vents were clear and unobstructed, and the wing drain ports showed no damage or evidence of leakage. Both wing fuel tanks remained unbreached during the accident sequence. The engine's fuel servo fuel screen was inspected and found to be in good condition without debris. Aside from a bent propeller, the engine showed no impact damage.
Testing was performed using a test propeller and external fuel sources. The engine was run for five minutes using fuel from the left side and then for another five minutes using fuel from the right side. During these runs, the engine reached full power with normal oil pressure and standard magneto drop between 50-60 rpm. No mechanical abnormalities were identified during engine operation.
Findings
Despite the pilot's visual assessment of fuel levels prior to departure, the investigation revealed that the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion. Although the pilot reported seeing sufficient fuel in both tanks after the landing, subsequent inspections and recovery efforts confirmed that the left tank was nearly empty and the right tank contained very little fuel.