Denver didn’t run out of gas. He was in the process of changing fuel tanks when he nosedived. The analysis was pretty straightforward. In that plane, to change tanks it was necessary to twist around and stretch out toward the rear. It was nearly impossible to do that without pressing a foot against the rudder. Pushing the rudder under those circumstances would send the plane into a nosedive.
It was a design flaw. Denver could have learned to change tanks without it leading to catastrophy, but it would have taken at least one extra practice run. He didn’t get that chance; his first try was his last try.
I guess I didn’t recall exactly correctly. I knew there was a fuel issue. I had forgotten about the tank switching.