Incident Summary
During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing. The aircraft subsequently came to rest in a field.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the airplane experienced no problems prior to the loss of power. The fuel selector valve was set to 'BOTH' at the time of the event. During the preflight inspection, the pilot visually checked the fuel gauges, which incorporated a gray area indicating an inadequate fuel load for takeoff. The gauge indications were 'just above the gray area.'
Wreckage Examination
An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a fuel spill. No mechanical malfunction was identified. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank contained approximately 1/2 gallon of fuel.