What happened
Following a cross-country flight with an intermediate stop, the pilot departed for the final leg of the journey. Shortly after lift-off, witnesses observed the engine sputter multiple times before it ceased operation.
In response to the loss of power, the pilot initiated a 180-degree right turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft reached an altitude between 300 and 400 feet. The aircraft then entered a nose-down attitude, striking a utility pole and a residential garage.
A fire ignited at the right wing following the impact and spread along the ground toward the left wing. The impact resulted in the destruction of the right wing. While the underside of the left wing sustained a puncture at the inboard fuel tank, it showed no signs of charring or paint blistering, though soot was present on the underside.
Investigators recovered approximately one gallon of fuel from the right wing and sixteen ounces of fuel from the left wing. At the time of the accident, the fuel selector was set to the left tank.