Accident Overview
During climb out following the release of a banner at the end of a 3-hour flight, the engine ceased operation. The pilot attempted to turn back toward the departure field, but the aircraft entered a stall and struck the ground nose-first and with a low left wing.
Post-Crash Examination
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The right fuel tank was not ruptured and was drained, yielding approximately 3.1 gallons of fuel. The manufacturer specifies that the unusable fuel quantity for each tank in all flight conditions is 2.5 gallons. The carburetor bowl and the fuel lines leading to the carburetor were found to contain no fuel.
The engine was subsequently started and operated normally, indicating no pre-impact mechanical failure.
Fuel Selector Details
The fuel selector has four positions: Left, Right, Both, and Off.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that on the night before the accident, he had obtained only 2–3 hours of sleep. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, he stated that he should have gotten more sleep and positioned the fuel selector to the Both position.