Incident Summary
While approaching the destination, the pilot initiated a descent from 9000 ft MSL and subsequently leveled off at 1600 ft MSL. Shortly after leveling, the engine abruptly ceased operation.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported switching the fuel selector to the right tank and attempting to restart the engine, but these efforts were unsuccessful. An emergency landing was carried out in an open field located beyond a line of trees. After crossing over the trees, the pilot could not flare the aircraft due to a loss of airspeed, resulting in a crash landing.
Investigation Findings
Post-incident examination revealed that approximately 10 to 15 gallons of fuel remained in the right fuel tank. Fuel consumption calculations indicated that all or most of the usable fuel in the left tank would have been consumed prior to the engine failure.