Accident Overview
A single-engine aircraft departed Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a flight to Belen, New Mexico. Approximately ten minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power and could not be restarted. The pilot executed an emergency landing, but during the flare, the aircraft touched down too flat, and the nose wheel struck a mound, causing the airplane to nose over.
Preflight and Flight
During preflight, the pilot drained the wing sumps and did not observe any water or other contaminants in the fuel. The pilot did not visually inspect the fuel tank caps or check the fuel level, instead relying on the fuel gauges, which he believed were accurate. He was aware that the left tank was nearly empty and estimated that about 35 gallons remained in the right tank.
Emergency Landing
After the engine failure, the pilot began the emergency landing. He reported that during the landing, he initiated the flare too low, resulting in a flat touchdown. Subsequently, the nose wheel impacted a mound, and the aircraft nosed over.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft revealed no fuel in either fuel tank, though fuel was present in the fuel lines and the gascolator. The engine was operationally checked and ran smoothly up to 2100 RPM, indicating no mechanical issues.