What happened
The pilot planned a cross-country flight carrying passengers. Due to the total weight of the occupants and baggage, he made the decision not to fill the outboard fuel tanks. The aircraft departed with the right outboard tank selector positioned to an empty tank.
Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine began to suffer from fuel starvation. In an attempt to avoid power lines and trees in the vicinity, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft. The maneuver caused the aircraft to stall, leading to a descent that ended with impact against the terrain.
The investigation
The examination of the event focused on the fuel management decisions made prior to flight. The investigation confirmed that the right outboard tank was empty and selected at the time of takeoff. This configuration directly contributed to the lack of fuel supply to the engine during the critical early phase of flight.