Incident Overview
On September 25, 2013, at approximately 1200 central daylight time, a Cessna 205 (registration N8472Z) suffered a total loss of engine power while on a visual descent to Thomas P. Stafford Airport (OJA) in Weatherford, Oklahoma. The pilot executed an off-airport landing in a field, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal operation.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident, and the flight was not operating under a flight plan. The airplane had departed from Cheyenne Regional Airport/Jerry Olson Field (CYS) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, around 0700 mountain daylight time, with a planned destination of OJA.
Fuel Management Details
On September 24, 2013, the pilot had 35 gallons of fuel added to the airplane, bringing the total fuel on board to 75 gallons. The following day, during the preflight inspection, he entered the fuel added into the fuel totalizer, which indicated a total of 74.3 gallons—a figure he cross-checked with the airplane's fuel gauges. The pilot anticipated a fuel consumption of 52 gallons for the planned flight, with an en route time of 3 hours and 46 minutes.
During the descent at approximately 1140, the engine began to sputter. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank, after which the engine ran smoothly. At that point, he noted about 17 gallons of fuel remaining, with 57 gallons consumed, and the fuel gauges indicated fuel remaining in the left tank. Continuing the descent, the engine failed completely at around 4,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot activated the boost pump and turned the airplane toward OJA before deciding to land in a field west of the airport. After landing, the fuel totalizer showed 15.7 gallons remaining and 58.6 gallons used.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the aircraft after the accident. Approximately 3 to 4 gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing fuel tank, and less than 1 gallon was drained from the right wing fuel tank.
Pilot's Recommendation
The pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided by topping off the fuel tanks during refueling instead of only replacing the fuel used, which would provide a known quantity and an additional margin of safety.