History of Flight
On November 3, 2013, at approximately 1315 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, registration N3148C, was on approach to land when the engine lost power approximately 1 mile east of the runway near St. Johns, Arizona. The owner/pilot, who held an airline transport pilot certificate, was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The cross-country personal flight had departed Delhart, Texas, about 1100, with a planned destination of St. Johns. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that during the approach following a 3.4-hour flight, the engine lost power. The wind was from the west at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The pilot determined he would not reach the runway and executed an emergency landing in a dirt field. During the approach, the pilot did not use carburetor heat. He also stated that he had refueled the airplane to capacity at a self-service fuel pit before departure.
Examination and Testing
The wreckage was recovered for further examination. During recovery, the right wing fuel tank was found empty, and the left wing fuel tank contained less than four gallons of fuel. The fuel system was intact, with no signs of leakage from either tank.
On November 20, 2013, the aircraft was examined at Air Transport in Phoenix, Arizona. The engine was connected to an external fuel supply and started immediately without issues. After warm-up, oil pressure and fuel pressures were normal. The engine was shut down and restarted without difficulty. A magneto check showed roughly 150 rpm drop for both left and right magnetos. No abnormalities were found that would preclude normal engine operation.
The pilot later told an FAA inspector that he had made the same flight many times and could not explain how he ran out of fuel on this occasion.