NYC97LA032

The pilot departed at night on a cross-country flight. After the airplane had climbed to 3,500 feet and had leveled about 8 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot selected a lighted street for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees and was damaged. The pilot did not verify the airplane's fuel load before he departed on the cross-country flight. The airplane had been flown 5.3 hours since the last refueling. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction. No usable fuel was found in the airplane's fuel system, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill. According to the airplane's information manual, the maximum time endurance, at 75 percent power, was about 5.3 hours.

On December 20, 1996, about 2015 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N4829V, was destroyed when it impacted trees during a forced landing near Stamford, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed the Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York, about 2000, destined for Theodore Francis Green State, Providence, Rhode Island. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that shortly after departure, the engine started running rough. Emergency procedures were performed by the pilot; however, the engine continued to lose power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a road.

Examination of the wreckage by the NTSB IIC revealed that both wing fuel tanks were ruptured. There was no evidence of a fuel spill, and the carburetor fuel lines were absent of fuel.

Examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed no evidence of malfunctions. Also, the FAA Inspector reported that during a telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot stated that he did not know what the fuel load was prior to departure.

According to residence of the area and local authorities, at the accident scene, immediately following the accident, there was no odor or evidence of fuel.

The refueling records and the tachometer reading at the accident site revealed that the airplane had been operated for 5.3 hours, by the accident pilot, since the last refueling on December 8, 1996. According to the Airplane's Information Manual (AIM), the total usable fuel capacity was 62 gallons. The AIM further stated that for cruise, at 75 percent power, the flight endurance was 5.3 hours.