What happened
During the approach for landing, the aircraft suffered a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to perform a forced landing on a residential street, ultimately coming to a stop 4,500 feet short of the destination airport.
During the landing ground roll, the left wing of the aircraft collided with a tree.
The investigation
Upon inspection by recovery personnel, it was determined that there was no fuel remaining in the aircraft's fuel tanks. Investigators observed fresh blue staining on the belly area located below and behind the fuel strainer drain outlet.
The pilot stated that the fuel tanks had been filled the day before the flight, though no fuel receipts were available for verification.
Findings
Investigators identified fuel exhaustion as a factor in the engine failure. The aircraft's performance specifications indicate a cruise speed of 73 miles per hour at 3,000 feet with 75 percent power and best power mixture, consuming 4.4 gallons per hour. With a total fuel capacity of 12 gallons, the straight-line distance of 146 nautical miles between the departure and destination airports exceeded the aircraft's operational range given the consumption rate.