Accident Sequence
The pilot took off to practice touch-and-go landings with approximately one-quarter tank of fuel indicated on the gauges. After about 15 minutes of flight and one completed touch-and-go landing, the pilot turned onto the final approach leg, at which point the engine stopped operating. A forced landing was executed approximately one mile from the airport. During the landing, the aircraft collided with a culvert.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident examination found no fuel in the left fuel tank, with no evidence of leakage. The right fuel tank contained about five gallons of fuel. The pilot reported that during the landing approach, the fuel selector was set to both tanks. When the engine stopped, he switched the selector to the right tank, but the engine failed to restart.
The pilot's account and the fuel quantity observations are the only information available regarding the fuel system status.