What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot planned a cross country flight from gnoss field (O56) novato, CA to benton field (O85) Redding, CA. The pilot stated that he had planned this flight extensively and that he had sufficient fuel on board to complete the flight with 45 minutes of reserve fuel. The fuel supply was exhausted prior to his destination and the pilot made an off-field landing approximately two miles short of the airport. The pilot stated that he must have had a fuel leak since his planning indicated that he had sufficient fuel for the trip. After successfully landing the aircraft the wing struck a pole and finally came to rest. There were no injuries to the pilot or anyone on the ground. The recovery team from benton field stated that there was no indication of a fuel leak and that there was substantial damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT PLANNED A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM GNOSS FIELD (O56) NOVATO, CA TO BENTON FIELD (O85) REDDING, CA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED THIS FLIGHT EXTENSIVELY AND THAT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL ON BOARD TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT WITH 45 MINUTES OF RESERVE FUEL. THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS EXHAUSTED PRIOR TO HIS DESTINATION AND THE PILOT MADE AN OFF-FIELD LANDING APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MUST HAVE HAD A FUEL LEAK SINCE HIS PLANNING INDICATED THAT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE TRIP. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT THE WING STRUCK A POLE AND FINALLY CAME TO REST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR ANYONE ON THE GROUND. THE RECOVERY TEAM FROM BENTON FIELD STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A FUEL LEAK AND THAT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.