Incident Overview
A pilot and a passenger departed on a low altitude wildlife control flight. According to a statement from the pilot, the fuel calculations for the flight were based on the fuel burn from the previous day's flight. During the flight, the pilot used a clock timer starting from engine start to monitor the remaining fuel supply.
Engine Power Loss
When the timer indicated 4 hours and 22 minutes, the engine experienced a partial loss of power on two consecutive occasions. Both times, the pilot successfully restored power by applying carburetor heat. A third loss of power occurred, and the pilot attempted to restore it by leaning the mixture control and adjusting the fuel selector. Ultimately, the engine experienced a total loss of power.
Emergency Landing
The pilot executed a forced landing on a highway to the north, with a gusty quartering tailwind from the southwest. During the landing roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, causing it to exit the road. The aircraft subsequently struck a fence and a wooden pole, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
Investigation Findings
A responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the airplane's usable fuel supply had been exhausted. In a statement from the operator's representative, the pilot acknowledged that his fuel calculations were incorrect and that the fuel supply had been depleted.