Event Description
On the day of the accident, a pilot was preparing for a test flight. The pilot added 5 gallons of fuel to the right fuel tank. The aircraft then taxied for takeoff with the left fuel tank nearly empty. The pilot intended to switch to the right tank before departing but did not do so.
After takeoff, at approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine lost power. The pilot subsequently attempted to restart the engine. When the restart was unsuccessful, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to land in a cornfield.
Pilot Actions
Following the accident, the pilot spoke with a witness and stated that he had forgotten to switch fuel tanks before the engine stopped. After the engine stopped, the pilot changed the fuel selector to the right tank, but was unable to restart the engine.
The pilot's decision to taxi and take off with the left tank nearly empty, and the failure to switch to the right tank prior to takeoff, set the stage for the fuel starvation event.