What happened
The aircraft was operating at approximately 20,000 feet when the engine ceased producing power. The pilot initiated a forced landing procedure and selected a soft field for touchdown. Upon contact with the ground, the airplane dug into the surface material, leading to a ground loop event. During this sequence, the right main landing gear collapsed under the stress of the impact.
Findings
Post-incident examination revealed that the pilot had failed to switch the fuel selector from the left tank during the flight. This oversight resulted in fuel starvation for the engine. Inspection of the remaining fuel sources indicated that the right tank still contained between 10 and 15 gallons of usable fuel at the time of the incident.
Safety message
This event highlights the critical importance of monitoring fuel quantity and ensuring the fuel selector is positioned correctly to match the active tank, particularly during long descents or when transitioning between tanks.