Event Sequence
The pilot departed Salt Lake City and flew to Provo, Utah, where he performed a touch-and-go landing on runway 18 using full flaps. After retracting the flaps and applying full power, the airplane lifted off. During the initial climb, the pilot retracted the landing gear. As the gear doors closed, the engine lost power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed, activated the boost pump, and checked the fuel selector and magnetos, but the engine did not respond. He then lowered the landing gear, but the airplane touched down on the runway before the gear fully extended.
Aftermath
An FAA inspector visited the scene. The inspector noted that the pilot had recently received a checkout in the Beech J35. Examination of the fuel selector revealed it was positioned to the left auxiliary tank, which was empty. Fuel was present in the main tanks.
Findings
The aircraft was a Beech J35. The fuel selector was found on the empty left auxiliary tank. The main tanks contained fuel.