[ken5050]

As a non-pilot, I have a few questions. I'd always heard that the Cessna virtually flew itself...a forgiving plane. He was on a final approach to the runway so he had to be in control until right before the crash, when the plane( as described) went in almost nose first

Why assume he ran out of fuel. isn't it as likely, if not more so, that he suffered a heart attack, spasm at the controls, at the plane went in..an autopsy will tell.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

That was exactly my guess, about 5 seconds before reading your post.

I think he had a medical emergency.

Also a non-pilot.

[billorites]

"I'd always heard that the Cessna virtually flew itself...a forgiving plane."

I expect every airplane that I'm flying will try to kill me at some point. The plane may be forgiving, but the hard earth is unyielding.

Medical incapacitation of pilots is pretty rare. Much more common is fuel exhaustion. Perhaps he did run out of fuel, tried to stretch the glide, then stalled and spun it. That photo shows an aircraft that was out of control when it crashed. Fuel exhaustion does not render an aircraft out of control.

[bgill]

Or had a white stripe around his head.