Event Details
The pilot of an airplane on a long cross-country flight stopped at an intermediate airport to refuel before continuing to the final destination. During the fueling stop, the pilot added fuel only to the wingtip fuel tanks, neglecting to add any fuel to the main fuel tanks.
After departing the fuel stop, the flight proceeded normally for about 10 minutes. While on approach to the destination airport, the airplane's engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing, touching down on a nearby racetrack.
Examination Findings
Following the accident, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane before the power loss. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the main fuel tanks were structurally intact but completely empty. The wingtip fuel tanks, which had been filled during the stop, were designed to transfer fuel to the main tanks, not to supply the engine directly. As a result, the engine was starved of fuel because the main tanks contained none.