Incident Details
Prior to departure, a passenger observed that the left and right fuel tank gauges indicated three-quarters full and empty, respectively. The aircraft departed with the fuel selector positioned to the right tank. Shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot manipulated the throttle, causing the engine to sputter and then cease operation.
During the subsequent forced landing in an open field, the nose landing gear struck a fence. The collision caused the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted on the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that the right fuel tank contained approximately 4.5 gallons of fuel, while the left fuel tank held approximately 13.0 gallons. According to the airplane type certificate data sheet, the unusable fuel quantity for each tank is 5.25 gallons. The right tank's fuel quantity was therefore below the unusable fuel level, while the left tank contained adequate usable fuel.