Accident Overview
A single-engine aircraft experienced an engine sputter during a normal descent. The pilot reported that the sputter indicated the auxiliary fuel tank, which was in use, had been emptied. He switched fuel tanks and held the boost pump in prime. The engine sputtered and surged but did not continue operating. An attempt to reach a nearby airport was unsuccessful, and a forced landing was made in a field adjacent to a warehouse.
Sequence of Events
After landing, the airplane collided with the tracks of a railroad spur. The impact separated the left main landing gear. The airplane continued its landing roll until the right wing struck a utility pole. The aircraft came to rest in the field.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no fuel in the auxiliary fuel tank, usable fuel in the wing tanks, and the fuel selector in the right wing tank position. After the airplane had been moved, fuel that had been drained from it at the accident site was used in the auxiliary tank to operate the engine.