19980605020749A

During descent into O68 ran out of fuel. Tried land on highway. But wing hit a tree. Crashed on shoulder I40 (-23) on 06/05/1998 at approximately 1630 hours (PDT) the private pilot was descending from 4000 MSL to land at Mariposa airport, Mariposa, CA, when the engine decellerated. The pilot radio communicated to Mariposa airport at 1438 PDT, "may day, 73 lima out of fuel south of the airport at the ridge". "We are going to have to land on 140". The aircraft struck a tree with the left wing and crashed on SR-140 north shoulder westbound traffic. (.4)the day before the pilot's flight he checked his airplane and determined that its right fuel tank was full of fuel, and the left tank was 'down 2 to 3 gallons.' The following morning a preflight inspection was performed, no fuel was added, and the pilot took off from Mariposa, California. After flying about 1:20 hours, the pilot landed at bakersfield and ate lunch. Thereafter, he took off for a return flight to Mariposa. En route, the pilot cruised at 6,500 feet MSL and overflew fresno, a community with several airports. The pilot observed the airplane's fuel gauges, switched tanks, and co ntinued heading toward Mariposa. About 35 miles past fresno, all engine power was lost. A ground-based witness heard the pilot transmit a distress call indicating that he was out of fuel. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing on a highway, but on approach collided with trees. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure was found during an examination of the airplane. Fuel system continuity was established, with no ruptures evident to any line or tank. The FAA reported that the amount of fuel observed remaining in the fuel tanks was less than 1 gallon and was in the unusable range. A few drops of fuel were observed in the gascolator. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he refueled (before departure) at bakersfield.