Primary finding
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion engine power loss due to the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
A private pilot on a 536 nautical miles cross country flight flew for four hours and twelve minutes before running out of fuel on the return leg of his flight. He had taken off with 84 gallons of fuel on board and did not refuel at his overnight stop. The pilot attempted a forced landing next to an interstate highway. During the landing roll, both main landing gears collapsed and the left wing impacted a utility pole.
Source record
Factual narrative
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