What happened
During cockpit preflight checks, the pilot failed to set the fuel selector switch to the "both" position. After approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes of flight, the pilot began a descent for landing and reduced the propeller RPM slightly. Immediately following this reduction in RPM, the engine began to surge. The pilot initially believed the issue was related to the propeller governor; however, after returning to cruise RPM, the engine surged again before eventually stopping power production entirely.
Located approximately 5 miles from the airport, the pilot identified a dirt road for an emergency landing. The pilot admitted to failing to use the checklist during the emergency. While the aircraft was clear of fences and obstacles at the time of touchdown, the left wing struck a small tree during the rollout. This impact caused the aircraft to swerve and subsequently strike a ditch.
The investigation
The pilot reported that the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank at the time of the incident. An examination of the aircraft revealed that while there was fuel remaining in the left tank, there was no fuel in the right tank. At the accident site, the fuel selector was observed in the "both" position. A mechanical examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.