Accident Sequence
On the third touch-and-go landing, while on the downwind leg of the approach, the pilot switched fuel tanks. Shortly thereafter, the engine failed. The pilot attempted to restart the engine 3 to 4 times by switching fuel tanks and activating the boost pump. The engine started once but failed again.
Forced Landing
The pilot executed a forced landing in a field. During the landing, the left wing struck a fence post and the landing gear collapsed.
Post-Accident Findings
Fuel was found in both tanks. However, the auxiliary tank and the engine fuel distributor were found empty. During a post-accident interview, the certified flight instructor (CFI) stated he was not sure which fuel tank was selected when the engine failed.
Engine Run-Up
A post-accident engine run-up was performed, and the engine ran satisfactorily. However, when the fuel selector was switched to the OFF or AUX positions, the engine would stop after about one minute.