What happened
Immediately following takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground, the engine of the aircraft suffered a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to perform an emergency landing on a nearby highway; however, due to the presence of an automobile on the roadway, the pilot was forced to land off the side of the road.
The aircraft entered a ditch during the landing sequence. As a result of the impact, the right landing gear separated from the airplane, and the empennage and left horizontal stabilizer sustained damage. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection conducted by an Alaska State Trooper confirmed that fuel was present in both wing tanks. Subsequent mechanical examinations of the engine were performed by an FAA airworthiness inspector and an independent mechanic, neither of whom noted any anomalies with the engine's operation.
Regarding the fuel system configuration, the pilot could not definitively recall which fuel tank was selected at the time of takeoff, though he believed it was the right tank. However, in official reports provided to the NTSB, the pilot stated he was positive that the fuel selector valve was set to the left tank position during takeoff. The aircraft contains a placard instructing the use of the right tank only during level flight when the tank is less than one-third full.