What happened
The aircraft experienced a loss of power shortly after initiating takeoff from runway 18. The pilot attempted a forced landing but was unable to clear the departure end of the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck trees located just beyond the runway threshold.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed significant discrepancies in the fuel system configuration. The fuel selector valve was found positioned to draw from the left tank. However, inspection confirmed that the left tank contained no fuel at the time of the incident.
Further checks indicated that the carburetor was dry and devoid of fuel. Additionally, the fuel lines connected to the left tank were also empty, confirming that no fuel had reached the engine during the critical phase of flight.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for takeoff. By selecting the left tank which was empty, the engine received no fuel. This resulted in a complete loss of power shortly after departure, leaving insufficient altitude or distance to execute a safe landing away from obstacles.
Safety message
Pilots must verify fuel quantity and selector position before every flight. Relying on assumptions about tank levels can lead to catastrophic fuel exhaustion during critical phases of flight such as takeoff.