What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft with the intention of flying to a nearby airport specifically to purchase additional fuel. Prior to commencing the flight, the pilot made an assumption regarding the quantity of fuel onboard, believing that there were approximately 20 gallons available in the tanks.
About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine unexpectedly lost power. Unable to maintain altitude or reach a suitable airfield, the pilot initiated an emergency procedure and force-landed the airplane in a field. During this forced landing, the aircraft collided with a fence located near the landing site.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a post-accident examination of the aircraft's fuel system to determine the cause of the power loss. The inspection revealed that there was no fuel present in the fuel tanks at all. Furthermore, the examination found no evidence of fuel staining or leakage on the aircraft surfaces, indicating that the fuel had not spilled but had been entirely consumed or never loaded.
Findings
The primary factor leading to this incident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot's assumption about the fuel quantity prior to departure proved incorrect, and the lack of visible leaks confirmed that the engine simply ran out of fuel during the flight phase.