What happened
The pilot was performing a practice approach to an incomplete airstrip located on his own property. Approximately five minutes before arriving at the airstrip, the fuel selector was moved from the left tank to the right tank. After traveling about two-thirds of the way down the runway, the pilot increased power and initiated a climb. At that point, the engine lost power. In an attempt to avoid obstacles, the pilot pulled sharply back on the controls, causing the Piper Tri-Pacer to stall and impact the ground.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage determined that the right wing fuel tank was empty. Additionally, 1 pint of fuel had been drained from the auxiliary fuel tank. The left tank remained with approximately 15 gallons of fuel. Investigators found the cockpit fuel selector in a position between the left and right tank settings.