On July 26, 2003, about 1901 central daylight time, a Cessna 177, Cardinal, N2336Y, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a tree and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Murdock, Nebraska. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Marshall County Airport, near Lacon, Illinois, at 1515, and was enroute to Lincoln Municipal Airport, near Lincoln, Nebraska, at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement: We departed Marshall Co. (Ill) for Nebraska [at] 1515 central time. We flew first using the right tank selector for exactly 1 [hour] switched to the left tank and flew for 2 hours then switched to the right tank. An increase in oil temperature near the red line was noted with normal indication on EGT and CHT gauges. Cabin temp was steamy. I was told that the ground temp was 101 [degrees Fahrenheit]. After 3 [hours] and 15[minutes] a decision was made to land at Lincoln Municipal with fuel gauges indicating lower than expected. ( [left side] < 1/4 Tank [right side] approx 1/4) Omaha and Lincoln approach control handled the flight and we were told to descend at pilot's discretion. I descended to 3000 [feet] MSL over the next 10 minutes and was given a landing instruction left base for runway 17L. I proceeded to a position approximately 17 NM from the airport when the engine quit. I switched tanks to the left side [and] turned on the fuel pump [electric]. The engine seemed to start again and I continued, notifying Lincoln approach of a possible problem. With less than 5 minutes to landing the engine quit completely. I tried switching tanks to both, carb heat on, primer in etc. did a mag check and nothing worked. Decision was made to land west on a side dirt road. I set-up for that but noticed high voltage wires on [right hand side] and crossing the road. An alternate [north and south] paved road was chosen [and] I turned to it. There were cars traveling south on that road. I moved to the [right hand side] of the road to avoid landing on top of a blue car. When it stopped I turned back and landed on that road. The [aircraft's] right wing hit branches and the [aircraft] spin around to a stop. Subsequent to the accident, the pilot stated that he found out that "there was little fuel if any left in the aircraft." A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector observed a test run of the accident aircraft's engine. The engine was able to start and run.