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That doesn’t sound right. Pilots are fully trained to check out the plane before flying it (including checking the fuel tanks) and it is second nature to do that. Unless he had decided to commit suicide, he would have checked the tanks.

While that is true..., on a number of CAP search missions, wrecks have been located where fuel exhaustion was the cause (including one I located). I vividly remember a flight made by a Jacksonville Doctor and his family many years ago. They had a brand-new Cessna 310 (twin engine).

He filled the tanks before leaving Jacksonville, proceeded to fly all over the state landing to show off the plane to family and friends then flew back to Jacksonville. Unfortunately, the NTSB investigation revealed that, despite landing at several cities throughout the day..., HE NEVER BOUGHT ANY FUEL THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT! He and his family died when the plane ran out of fuel a few dozen miles from Jacksonville! (note: that wreck was not found by me)