Fuel exhaustion Accident Bellanca 17-30A N194DW, Sunday 17 January 2016

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Date:	Sunday 17 January 2016
Time:	18:35 LT
Type:	Bellanca 17-30A
Owner/operator:
Registration:	N194DW
MSN:	94-301021
Year of manufacture:	1994
Total airframe hrs:	565 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO 520 SERIES
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Overbrook, Oklahoma - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	McKinney, TX (T31)
Destination airport:	McKinney, TX (T31)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The private pilot stated that he did not visually check the fuel level in the tanks before the personal cross-country flight but that he estimated that there was sufficient fuel on board for a 1-hour flight; the flight was expected to take 30 minutes. The pilot stated that, about 15 to 20 minutes into the flight, the engine started to surge, and it then experienced a total loss of power. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. He then attempted to circle to the north end of a nearby airport so he could land to the south instead of landing to the north with a light tailwind. While on final approach, the airplane contacted trees and terrain about 300 ft north of the runway end. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel system was intact. No fuel was found in the left wing tank, and 1/2 gallon of fuel was found in the right wing tank.

Probable Cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and his subsequent decision to circle to the north end of the airport due to a light tailwind condition instead of making a downwind landing.

Accident investigation: