Accident Summary
A single-engine airplane experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight approximately 10 minutes from its intended destination. The pilot, a private pilot with 385 hours of flight experience, executed a forced landing to a rough, mesquite-covered field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the landing, but the pilot and passenger were able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The flight originated at 0900 and the power loss occurred at 1530.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that the fuel tanks had been topped off with 90 gallons of aviation fuel for the 874.6-nautical-mile cross-country flight. He stated that he relied on a fuel computer, which indicated 14 gallons (1.1 hours) of fuel remaining at the time of the engine power loss. The pilot acknowledged that he "ran out of fuel" and added that the power loss could have been prevented if he had used a fuel burn rate of 13 gallons per hour and restricted his endurance to a maximum of 6 hours.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector who traveled to the accident site discovered that the fuel cells were empty. No other mechanical anomalies were reported. The investigation did not identify any additional factors beyond the fuel exhaustion.