Accident Details
The airplane suffered a loss of engine power and subsequently impacted terrain approximately 450 yards from the approach end of the runway. The pilot had spent about 1.5 hours reviewing the flight manual for the airplane due to unfamiliarity with the model. The flight departed with the left fuel tank selected, and the pilot spent about 2 hours flying before returning to the departure airport.
During the initial descent, the pilot switched the fuel selector valve to the right tank. About 1 nautical mile from touchdown, the engine began to lose power. The pilot checked that the mixture was rich and the carburetor heat was on, then contacted the air traffic control tower and declared an emergency. Due to insufficient altitude, a forced landing was executed short of the runway.
Post-Accident Inspection
After the accident, the pilot inspected the fuel tanks and observed no fuel in the tanks; however, the airplane was in a nose-down, left-wing-low attitude. An FAA inspector examined the fuel system and observed fuel in the left tank but none in the right tank. A post-accident engine ground run-up was conducted using the left tank, with no discrepancies noted.