Background
On October 5, 2011, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, registration N6403A, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport forced landing near Centerburg, Ohio. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot on a personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan, originating from Blue Ash Airport in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 1100.
Flight and Fuel Management
Prior to departure, the pilot visually checked fuel levels in the tanks and compared them against the fuel quantity gauges. He reported the left tank contained about 6 gallons and the right tank about 10 gallons. Takeoff was made using fuel from the left tank. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank, which was then indicating 1 to 2 gallons, to the right tank. The flight continued for approximately 50 minutes. While descending to the destination airport, the engine lost power. At that time, the right fuel quantity indicator showed 5 gallons. When the pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector back to the left tank, the right fuel quantity indicator dropped to zero. The engine could not be restarted.
Forced Landing and Damage
A forced landing was executed in a corn field. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed and the firewall was bent, resulting in substantial damage.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident inspection revealed both fuel tanks were empty, with only a small amount of fuel remaining in the gascolator. The pilot stated he did not recall when the airplane was last fueled. The reason for the discrepancy between the right fuel quantity indicator reading and the actual fuel in the right tank was not determined.