Accident Overview
The pilot was conducting an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flight when he realized the airplane was very low on fuel. With assistance from air traffic control, he diverted to an airport located about 30 nautical miles from his intended destination. The pilot reported difficulty locating the airport visually. Upon identifying the runway, he found the airplane was too high to land. While continuing to descend and maneuver toward the runway, the engine lost power. The pilot then landed in a field. The airplane struck the ground hard, bounced, and hit a utility pole before coming to a stop. The airplane was destroyed.
Pilot Report
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, the pilot stated that no fuel was found in the airplane after the accident and that the right fuel cap was not installed. He reported that he added fuel to both fuel tanks at the departure airport and considered it possible or likely that he did not secure the right fuel cap during his preflight inspection. During the diversion, the pilot did not complete the forced landing checklist.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.