FTW03LA060

The pilot reported that prior to the night VFR flight, the airplane's left and right main fuel tanks were 1/2 full, the right tip tank was 1/2 full, and the left tip tank was empty. The pilot did not refuel the airplane prior to departure. During the return flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks approximately every 20 to 30 minutes, and the airplane experienced a 20 to 25 knot headwind. Approximately 8 nautical miles east of the destination, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. A passenger, who was seated in the right front seat, stated that after the engine lost power, the pilot "...tried the other 3 tanks for fuel and could not find any." There was no evidence of fuel found at the accident site.

On December 14, 2002, approximately 0230 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-235 single-engine airplane, N8925W, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Bryson, Texas. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Shreveport Downtown Airport (DTN), Shreveport, Louisiana, approximately 0000, and was destined for the Graham Municipal Airport (E15), Graham, Texas.

In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he and his passengers departed E15 on December 13, 2002, approximately 1800, with a planned flight to DTN and a return to E15. The pilot stated that prior to the departure from E15, the airplane was full of fuel minus a "few gallons in one wing tip fuel tank." Prior to the departure from DTN back to E15, the airplane's left and right main fuel tanks were 1/2 full, the right tip tank was 1/2 full, and the left tip tank was empty. The pilot did not refuel the airplane prior to departure from DTN.

During the return flight to E15, the pilot switched fuel tanks approximately every 20 to 30 minutes. The pilot added that during the return flight, the airplane experienced a 20 to 25 knot headwind. Approximately 8 nautical miles east of E15, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. The pilot stated that the total flight time from E15 to DTN to the accident site was approximately 3.5 hours.

The passenger, who was seated in the right front seat, reported that approximately 9 miles from E15, the airplane ran out of fuel. He stated that after the engine lost power, the pilot "...tried the other 3 tanks for fuel and could not find any."

An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that there was no evidence of fuel found at the accident site. The inspector stated that the right wing was separated, the propeller blades were bent aft, and the landing gear was collapsed.

The airplane was equipped with left and right main and wing tip fuel tanks. The main fuel tanks capacity was 48 total gallons of usable fuel (24 gallons per side), and the wing tip tanks capacity was 36 total gallons usable fuel (18 gallons per side).