Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate fuel management that resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, after completing the first half of a cross country flight, he departed without checking the airplane’s fuel level. Before reaching his destination, the airplane’s engine lost power and the pilot attempted to restart the engine, without success. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field, where during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that he had exhausted all available fuel and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.