Incident Summary
According to a written statement from the pilot, while approximately 7 miles from the intended destination, the engine began running rough and lost all power about one minute later. The pilot made multiple unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. Deciding to land at a closer airport, he realized he would not be able to reach it and instead chose to land in an open field. During the landing, the airplane bounced, and the right wing collided with a tree, spinning the aircraft around. Both wings sustained substantial damage.
Findings
Upon arrival, local fire department officials reported no fuel leaks or odor of fuel at the scene. Attempts to drain fuel from the sump yielded no fuel. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed the absence of fuel at the selector valve and in the wing tanks. Recovery personnel, when disassembling the airplane for movement, found no fuel in the system and noted the fuel system was intact.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that "adding additional fuel in excess of [the] perceived minimum fuel level would likely have avoided power loss."