What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 18th the PIC departed from gtf for gpi. The PIC requested 5 gallons of gas be added to the airplane. The PIC thought the airplane already had 21 gallons on board but did not verify the quantity. After aprox. Three and a half hours of Flight time the airplane arrived in the vicinity of gpi. The airport was reporting 800 foot ceilings. The PIC did not request a special VFR clearance to land at his destination. The PIC decided to fly back to gtf believing he had plenty of fuel on board to make it back to gtf. After aprox. Four hours of flying, the engine stopped running and the PIC conducted an emergency landing in Hungry Horse resevoir.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 18TH THE PIC DEPARTED FROM GTF FOR GPI. THE PIC REQUESTED 5 GALLONS OF GAS BE ADDED TO THE AIRPLANE. THE PIC THOUGHT THE AIRPLANE ALREADY HAD 21 GALLONS ON BOARD BUT DID NOT VERIFY THE QUANTITY. AFTER APROX. THREE AND A HALF HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME THE AIRPLANE ARRIVED IN THE VICINITY OF GPI. THE AIRPORT WAS REPORTING 800 FOOT CEILINGS. THE PIC DID NOT REQUEST A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO LAND AT HIS DESTINATION. THE PIC DECIDED TO FLY BACK TO GTF BELIEVING HE HAD PLENTY OF FUEL ON BOARD TO MAKE IT BACK TO GTF. AFTER APROX. FOUR HOURS OF FLYING, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND THE PIC CONDUCTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN HUNGRY HORSE RESEVOIR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.