Accident Overview
The engine lost power soon after the airplane departed from runway 35 while at an altitude of 400 to 500 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot executed a forced landing in an open pasture with the landing gear extended. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a terrace, causing the landing gear to collapse.
Pilot Actions and Fuel Management
During the preflight inspection, the pilot noted that the left main fuel cell was approximately 3/4 full, while the right fuel tank was very low on fuel. Prior to takeoff, the pilot inadvertently switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. When the engine lost power, the pilot assumed the engine had malfunctioned and did not switch the fuel selector to the fullest tank (the left main fuel cell). The pilot, who had accumulated 400 hours of flight time, reported to local law enforcement personnel that 'the airplane ran out of fuel.' However, examination after the accident found the left main fuel cell still approximately 3/4 full.
Aircraft Details
The accident airplane was a 1959 vintage model equipped with a single fuel gauge controlled by a two-position toggle switch for both the left and right fuel cells. The aircraft's configuration may have contributed to the difficulty in monitoring fuel quantity in each tank.
Investigation Findings
The source of the engine power loss was traced to fuel starvation from the right fuel tank, which had very low fuel. The left main fuel cell contained sufficient fuel but was not selected. No mechanical malfunction was reported.