Incident Summary
Aircraft operations were normal until the engine lost power during cruise flight. According to the pilot, the power loss occurred at an altitude of 2,000 feet while the aircraft was approximately 10 miles north of Vicksburg. The pilot initiated a forced landing, but the aircraft landed short of the runway. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with bushes and subsequently ground looped, causing the landing gear to collapse.
Pilot Actions
Upon the initial power loss, the pilot activated the fuel boost pump and successfully restarted the engine. However, the engine quit again shortly thereafter. Despite the pilot's efforts, including switching fuel tanks, the engine could not be restarted. The forced landing was then executed.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed that all fuel tanks were empty, with the exception of the right auxiliary tank. The fuel selector was found to be out of detent for the right main tank position. No other anomalies were reported.