Overview
A private pilot and one passenger were on a cross-country flight when they encountered poor weather along the route. The pilot decided to land on a roadway and spent the night at a nearby lodge. The following day, the pilot departed from the road without adding fuel and continued toward the intended destination.
Loss of Engine Power
As the airplane approached the destination airport, it was cruising at about 1,500 feet. Approximately 4 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot then headed for an ultralight landing strip located adjacent to the main destination runway.
Stalled Approach
The runway surface of the ultralight strip was occupied by vehicles and pedestrians. The pilot began a turn to the left. While about 20 feet above the ground, the airplane stalled and descended in a nose-down attitude.
Fuel Selector Examination
After the accident, the fuel selector was found positioned to the left tank. The left fuel tank contained no fuel, while the right tank held a small amount of fuel. The pilot reported that he always leaves the fuel tank selector on "BOTH" but believed it must have been inadvertently moved during the flight. He also stated that during the emergency, he did not check the position of the fuel selector.