Flight History
A cross-country flight began with inoperative vacuum system and communication radios, but the initial leg was otherwise normal. The pilot verified that the aircraft lights were operational for the return flight, though the fuel gauges indicated empty despite the aircraft having been fully serviced with fuel.
Electrical Failure
Approaching sunset on the return leg, the electrical system became inoperative. Consequently, the normal landing gear extension system and flaps would not function. About 15 minutes later, as the aircraft neared its destination, the engine lost power.
Emergency Landing
The pilot manually extended the landing gear, using a flashlight to monitor airspeed. He switched the fuel selector and attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. A crash landing was subsequently made on top of a river bank at night.
Investigation Findings
During the investigation, the fuel selector was found positioned to an empty tank, while the other tank still contained usable fuel. The pilot had accumulated approximately 7 hours of flight time in that make and model of aircraft, all on the day of the accident.