Incident Overview
According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled the day prior to the accident and flown 246 miles. Before the accident flight, which covered 213 miles, the pilot added approximately 2 gallons of fuel to the main fuel tanks, providing about 13 total gallons on board.
Flight Events
En route to the intended destination, the pilot made an unexpected landing to accommodate a passenger's needs and remained on the ground for about 8 minutes. The remainder of the flight was uneventful until approximately 12 miles from the destination airport, when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power.
Forced Landing
The pilot attempted to land on a nearby road; however, the airplane impacted tree tops and came to rest in a nose-down attitude. This resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Postaccident Examination
A report from the Sheriff's Department noted that the passenger stated "they ran out of fuel." Postaccident examination revealed about one quart of fuel remained in the fuel system. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or any other abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.