Incident Overview
According to the pilot, he had requested that the aircraft be fully serviced with fuel before takeoff, but he did not visually check the fuel level. After departure, he flew for approximately 50 minutes before noticing that the right fuel tank, which he was using, indicated empty. The pilot stated that he normally flew for an hour before switching to another tank.
Events Leading to Engine Failure
Believing that he had used only 9 gallons from the 30-gallon tank, the pilot elected to delay switching to the other tank. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. The pilot then moved the fuel selector to the other tank but was unable to restore sufficient power to sustain flight.
Emergency Landing and Collision
During the subsequent emergency landing, the aircraft collided with trees and a fence, then came to rest upside down. Examination after the accident revealed that the right tank was empty, and only 7 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank.