Incident Overview
The aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power while in flight and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot reported that the engine failed at an altitude of 3,500 feet MSL.
Sequence of Events
Prior to the power loss, the pilot had been flying for approximately 30 minutes with the fuel selector positioned to draw fuel from the right tank. When the engine quit, the pilot attempted to restart it by switching the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank, but the engine did not restart. Over the following minutes, the pilot made several more attempts to restart the engine by alternating the fuel selector between the tank positions. These efforts were unsuccessful.
Post-Accident Findings
An examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, while the left tank still contained fuel. Further inspection of the aircraft did not uncover any mechanical malfunctions that could have contributed to the power loss. The pilot indicated that he had estimated the fuel quantity based on his previous usage of the aircraft and by checking the fuel quantity gauges.