What happened
The aircraft was performing maneuvers at a low altitude when the engine lost power. While the pilot was executing a forced landing following the loss of power, the aircraft struck a tree and subsequently impacted the terrain.
The investigation
A post-accident examination established both aircraft control continuity and engine continuity. An inspection of the fuel system revealed that the right tank contained four gallons of fuel, while no fuel was found in the left tank. At the time of the accident, the fuel selector was set to the right tank. Investigators noted a placard in the cockpit which stated, "Right tank level flight only." No mechanical anomalies were discovered during the examination that could be linked to a pre-existing condition.