SEA96LA204

The pilot noted that he had departed his home base after using a dip-stick to check the fuel quantity. He landed at another airport to pick up a passenger, then departed and proceeded to a practice area near another airport. He said he became engrossed in practicing flight maneuvers; and about two hours after initial takeoff, the engine quit producing power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot maneuvered for a forced landing at the airport near the practice area, but had to complete his forced landing off airport due to a potential conflict with landing traffic that was ahead. During a turn to his selected forced landing site, his descent rate increased. When he rolled the wings level, he had insufficient altitude and airspeed to avoid a firm touchdown in soft dirt.

On August 24, 1996, approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Price Acro Sport II, N456HD, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after fuel exhaustion near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured. The pilot was on a local flight, with a landing planned at Silverwood recreational park. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted under visual meteorological conditions. There was no report of the ELT actuating.

No fuel was found in the aircraft by FAA inspectors, whom the pilot told that he had run out of fuel. In a written statement, the pilot noted that he had left Felts Field, Spokane, Washington, about 0930 after dip-sticking the fuel quantity. He had landed at Couer d'Alene to pick up a passenger, then departed at 1030 and proceeded to a practice area near Silverwood Airport. He said he became engrossed in practicing flight maneuvers. At 1130 the engine quit producing power due to fuel exhaustion. He maneuvered for a forced landing at Silverwood, but had to complete his forced landing off-airport due to a potential conflict with landing traffic that was ahead of him. During maneuvers for the forced landing, his descent rate in a turn built up so that when he rolled wings level, he had insufficient altitude and airspeed to avoid a hard landing. The landing gear collapsed after the hard landing in soft dirt. The pilot attributed the accident to fuel exhaustion, noting that experience didn't help.