Incident Overview
A pilot reported that the aircraft was topped with 30 gallons of auto fuel prior to departing for an open house at McDill Air Force Base. The flight to McDill was normal.
Sequence of Events
Before departure, during the preflight inspection, approximately half an inch of water was drained from the fuel system. Immediately after takeoff, at about 300 feet, the engine quit. The pilot executed a forced landing into a field. As the aircraft slid along on its belly, the right wing struck a pole.
Post-Incident Inspection
The engine was subsequently test-run satisfactorily.