Flight Details
The pilot of the airplane checked the fuel gauges before departing on a cross-country flight. The left gauge indicated 1/2 tank, and the right gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot did not visually inspect the fuel quantity in the tanks and did not add any additional fuel.
Approximately 60 nautical miles from the destination, the pilot switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The engine began to stutter, and the pilot switched back to the left tank, after which the engine resumed normal operation. The pilot then located the nearest airport, which was 10 nautical miles away, and initiated a turn toward it.
Emergency Landing
Shortly after turning toward the airport, the engine began to stutter again. The pilot shut down the engine and performed an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached. The left and right fuel tanks each contained less than 1 gallon of fuel. A review of the pilot operating handbook indicated that each fuel tank holds 26 gallons, for a total of 52 gallons. The handbook specified 48 gallons of usable fuel, leaving 4 gallons as unusable. Additionally, the handbook stated that the fuel tanks should be visually checked before flight.