Event GAA15CA164

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, he exhausted the useable fuel on board the airplane. The pilot made an emergency off airport landing, and the airplane collided with terrain and came to rest in a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that he visually checked the fuel level via the sight gauge during his pre-flight, however he did not physically check the fuel cell. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, he exhausted the useable fuel on board the airplane. The pilot made an emergency off airport landing, and the airplane collided with terrain and came to rest in a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that he visually checked the fuel level via the sight gauge during his pre-flight, however he did not physically check the fuel cell. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Inadequate inspection - C
• C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid level - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome