20040207001349A

(-23) Mr. David redway was acting as pilot in command and the only occupant of a Cessna 185 which he owned, departed sunset sky ranch (se of sacramento, CA) at 10:40 hours PST to visalia, CA. Twenty four nautical miles northwest of visalia and one mile nw of Fowler, CA, at about 11:30 hours PST the aircrat engine quit. An emergency landing in a dirt field was executed withthe aircraft overturning. Mr. Redway was not injured. Both aircraft wings and the tail sustained substantial damage. The propeller was bent, the engine cowling and prop spinner were damaged. Fuel starvation was the apparent cause of the engine failure. Only four gallons of fuel could be drained from the aircraft fuel tanks after the accident. The pilot stated that he had begun the flight with the fuel gauges reading half full and he had visually checked the tanks prior to flight. Fifty three miles from visalia passing madera, CA, Mr. Redway stated that his left fuel gauge indicated one half full and the right fuel gauge indicated between one quarter and one half full. He stated the aircraft is equipped with long range fuel tanks and he believed he had sufficient fuel to make his destination.