Pilot Report
According to the pilot's report, during takeoff, as the airplane passed over the departure end of the runway, the engine began to lose power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing on a railroad bed located between two railroad tracks, resulting in damage to the airplane.
Investigation
An investigation into the incident found that the airplane had been serviced with automotive fuel. The fuel was identified as 87 octane and contained 10% ethanol. The airplane was not certified for the use of automotive fuel. Further testing demonstrated that engine operation was not reliable when using automotive fuel, due to vapor lock.
Additionally, an FAA/PMI representative reported that the pilot was aware of the use of automotive fuel in the airplane, although the pilot did not specifically identify the fuel as automotive during the preflight inspection.