Incident Overview
During a routine flight, the pilot was cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet when the engine began to sputter. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector from the left to the right tank, but the engine did not restart. A forced landing was initiated on a road, during which the aircraft collided with scrub pine trees, resulting in damage to the aircraft.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, investigators examined the fuel system. The left fuel tank was found empty. The fuel strainer was checked and found free of water. The right fuel tank could not be inspected at the accident site due to wing damage. However, later during the removal of the wreckage, the pilot drained 11 gallons of fuel from the right tank.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that proper fuel management would have prevented the accident. No other factors or causes were identified in the report.
Fuel Management
Fuel management is critical to ensure that adequate fuel is available to all tanks during flight. In this incident, the fuel selector was initially on the left tank, which became depleted, leading to engine failure.