Incident Overview
During a descent toward the airport at 4,000 feet, the pilot deliberately ran the right fuel tank dry before switching to the left tank. After switching, the pilot was unable to restart the engine, and the aircraft executed a forced landing in a plowed field approximately 2 miles short of the airport. The landing gear sheared off upon contact with soft earth, and the wings sustained damage.
Fuel Quantity Findings
Post-incident inspection by FAA inspectors revealed that the right fuel tank contained less than 1 gallon of fuel, while the left tank held 10 gallons. Each fuel tank has a total capacity of 40 gallons. The flight manual for the aircraft explicitly cautions against takeoffs, landings, or maneuvering with less than one quarter of fuel in the selected tank.
Fuel System Details
The fuel pick-up ports are located in the rear corner of each fuel tank. A functional test of the fuel system found no abnormalities in system function.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported having made two trips between Brawley and San Diego without refueling the aircraft.