Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, while the flight was approximately 11 miles from Spartanburg, South Carolina, the airplane's left fuel gauge began to bounce between four and eight gallons. In response, the pilot switched the fuel selector valve to the right tank. After five to ten seconds, the engine began to sputter and a loss of engine power was noticed.
The pilot immediately switched the fuel selector back to the left tank, pushed the throttle and mixture controls to full forward, and turned on the fuel pump. When engine power could not be regained, the pilot elected to land the airplane in a field.
Initially choosing to land on a road, the pilot aborted the landing after engine power was regained momentarily and began a climbing left turn. As the turn was completed, the engine once again lost power, and the pilot put the aircraft down in a field.
Landing and Damage
After touch down, the airplane traveled approximately 130 feet before striking a fence. It then traveled another 180 feet. There were no injuries to the pilot, his wife, or their two children.
Post-Accident Engine Test
When the engine was run after the accident, it ran smoothly and developed power for five minutes.