What happened
The pilot was operating a private aircraft on a cross-country flight when the engine experienced a total loss of power. This failure occurred during the initial climb phase immediately after takeoff, as the pilot attempted to return to the home base. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed an off-airport forced landing. During the landing rollout, the aircraft struck trees.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the fuel system revealed a discrepancy in fuel distribution. There was no fuel present in the left fuel tank or in the line connecting that tank to the carburetor. However, fuel was confirmed to be present in the right fuel tank. Examination of the fuel selector valve indicated that it was positioned on the left tank at the time of the incident.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was fuel exhaustion due to the selection of an empty fuel source. The pilot had selected the left fuel tank, which contained no fuel, while the right tank still held fuel. This mismanagement of fuel supply led directly to the engine failure.