Accident Overview
Following takeoff, the pilot was executing a downwind departure when the engine ceased operation. Unable to return to the departure runway, the aircraft collided with terrain approximately half a mile from the airport.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident inspection of the engine revealed that the main fuel line leading to the carburetor contained no fuel. Examination of the fuel tanks showed the left tip tank held about one-quarter of a tank, the left main tank was three-quarters full, the right main tank was full, and the right tip tank was empty. The pilot reported that he was operating on the left main fuel tank at the time of the incident. No other discrepancies were noted during the initial inspection.
Engine Examination
The engine was subsequently run for several minutes at various power settings. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were observed during this test.