Accident Summary
Following a 1.5-hour local flight, the pilot was returning to his home airfield. Due to inbound traffic to the airport, the pilot circled once to the west and descended for the runway. About 8 miles from the runway, he lowered the landing gear and set 10° flaps.
Loss of Engine Power
While on the base leg, the engine did not respond to throttle inputs. The pilot switched tanks, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, and increased the mixture. Engine power was not restored, and the pilot notified the tower that the airplane had a total loss of engine power.
Forced Landing
Traffic was too heavy on a nearby road, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane touched down and the pilot applied brakes. The aircraft traveled for about 90 ft, hit a ditch, and nosed over.
Pilot's Fuel Calculation
The pilot thought that he had about 45 gallons of fuel prior to take off, but he told the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had miscalculated his fuel. Only residue fuel was found during recovery of the airplane.
Conclusion
The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.