Circumstances
The pilot reported that during the cockpit preflight checks, he neglected to place the fuel selector switch on "both." The flight proceeded for approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. During the descent for landing, the pilot pulled the propeller RPM back slightly. He stated that the instant he reduced the RPM, the engine began to surge. The pilot became fixated on the propeller governor as the problem. When he returned to cruise RPM, the engine smoothed out for a moment, then began surging again and subsequently stopped producing power.
Forced Landing
The pilot reported being about 5 miles from the airport at the time of power loss. He immediately selected a dirt road on which to land. He stated that he again failed to use the checklist. The pilot indicated that he was clear of all fences and obstacles when he touched down on the road. However, during the rollout, the left wing struck a small tree, causing the airplane to swerve and subsequently impact into a ditch.
Examination
After the accident, the pilot reported that the fuel selector had been positioned to the right tank. An examination of the airplane revealed fuel in the left tank and no fuel in the right tank. At the accident site, the fuel selector was observed in the "both" position. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.