Accident Overview
During a descent from 11,000 feet, the engine lost power at 3,500 feet and could not be restarted. The pilot observed that the fuel gauges indicated the right tank was approximately one-quarter full, while the left tank was empty.
Landing and Damage
The pilot executed a landing in a rice field at night. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest in the field.
Fuel Examination
After the accident, investigators found about one quart of fuel in the left tank and approximately three gallons in the right tank. According to the flight manual, the aircraft has 1.5 gallons of unusable fuel in level, coordinated flight, but up to 5 gallons of unusable fuel in other flight conditions.