Incident
The pilot reported that, while flying at 6,000 feet, he allowed the fuel tank in use to run dry. He switched to another fuel tank, turned on the boost pump, and manipulated the engine controls, but was unable to restart the engine. He then executed a forced landing on Interstate 581. During the landing, the aircraft struck a pickup truck traveling in the same direction and subsequently veered into an embankment. None of the occupants in the truck were injured.
Examination
An examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that all fuel tanks contained fuel except the left main tank, which was empty. The boost pump switch was found in the 'prime' position, a condition that could cause flooding of the engine. The pilot sustained facial injuries, and no shoulder harness was installed in the aircraft.
Fuel System Details
The aircraft's fuel system comprised four tanks, requiring the pilot to position two selector valves through six possible positions for fuel management. Two fuel gauges were installed: one for the two main tanks and another for the two auxiliary tanks. Each gauge indicated only the quantity of fuel in the selected tank for its respective set. If neither tank in a pair was selected, the corresponding gauge read empty. The flight manual provided only limited information on the fuel system. Additionally, details of the air restart procedure and the boost pump position nomenclature differed between available manuals and the markings on the aircraft itself.