Accident Flight
A commercial rated pilot was repositioning an airplane from Texas to Wisconsin, with an intermediate stop in Missouri. The pilot reported departing Texas with 88 usable gallons of fuel and flying for 3 hours and 10 minutes before landing in Missouri. During the stop, the pilot purchased 30 gallons of fuel but did not visually inspect the tanks before departure.
Fuel Management
En route to Wisconsin, the pilot encountered severe turbulence and a strong crosswind. As the destination airport approached, the pilot observed the fuel gauges indicating progressively lower fuel levels. Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes into the flight—about 20 minutes from the intended landing—the engine stopped producing power due to fuel exhaustion.
Forced Landing
The pilot executed a forced landing to a snow-covered field. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall.
Post-Accident Examination
A mechanic who recovered the airplane reported no leaks in the fuel system. After recovery, about one pint of fuel was drained from the left wing fuel tank, while the right wing fuel tank was found empty.