What happened
During the takeoff climb of the third or fourth touch-and-go maneuver, the engine of the Cessna lost power and began to sputter. Before the flight, the pilot had observed the cockpit fuel sight gauges, which indicated the left fuel tank was approximately 3/4 full and the right tank was approximately 1/2 full. At the time the engine lost power, the fuel selector was set to the left fuel tank.
Following the loss of engine power, the flight instructor initiated a forced landing into a nearby field. During the maneuver, the aircraft impacted trees and terrain, eventually coming to rest on its nose. There were no fatalities reported in the accident.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the system was intact. Investigators found that the left main fuel tank was empty, while the right main fuel tank contained plenty of fuel. Additionally, the fuel was found to be clear of any contaminants.