Incident Overview
During a landing attempt, the pilot advanced the throttle, at which point the engine ceased operating. The aircraft subsequently struck an embankment short of the runway.
Fuel System Examination
An examination revealed that the pilot had selected the right fuel tank. However, the aircraft's operating manual specifies that the fuel selector should be set to BOTH during normal procedures. The right fuel tank was found empty, while the left fuel tank contained approximately 8 gallons of fuel.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the fuel gauges had provided a false indication. The gauge for the right tank indicated it had more fuel than the left, leading the pilot to select that tank.