Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during the final approach to land, the engine quit running and the aircraft could not glide to the runway. The aircraft touched down in a vacant lot approximately 75 feet short and 15 feet below the level of the end of the runway. After touchdown, it continued across a ditch, a road, another ditch, went through a barbed wire fence, continued up a bank, and stopped at the approach end of the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed approximately 5 gallons of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank, but only about three-quarters of a pint in the left tank. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left tank, and the fuel quantity gauge was switched to the right tank. All fuel lines were intact and all connections were tight. No evidence of fuel siphoning was found. Additionally, the engine ran satisfactorily during an operational check after the accident.
Findings
The aircraft came to rest at the approach end of the runway after traversing several obstacles. The fuel imbalance between tanks and the selector position indicate the engine likely ceased due to fuel starvation from the near-empty left tank.