What happened
The pilot initiated flight operations with an indicated full fuel supply in the aircraft's tanks. During the ensuing flight, which lasted approximately two and one-half hours, the crew performed several takeoffs and landings at various locations.
During the final takeoff phase of the flight, the engine lost power while the aircraft was climbing to an altitude of about 200 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot attempted a forced landing in the immediate vicinity. During this maneuver, the airplane struck a four-foot-tall post, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed significant discrepancies between the indicated fuel state and the actual contents of the wing tanks. Measurements showed only 6 ounces of fuel remaining in the right wing tank and 3 1/2 gallons in the left wing tank.
The aircraft operating handbook specified that there were 4 gallons of unusable fuel in each wing tank. The inspection findings indicated that the usable fuel capacity had been entirely depleted prior to the accident sequence.