Flight Details
A pilot was en route to attend his grandson's graduation. He made an en route stop, during which the airplane was refueled to capacity. Forty-five minutes after departing from that stop, the pilot encountered light to moderate turbulence with strong updrafts.
In-Flight Events
While in turbulence, the pilot moved his flight bag, which had been on the right front seat, and placed it on the cabin floor behind his seat. He did not realize that the bag's shoulder strap had slid between the seats and was wrapped around the fuel selector handle. When he moved the bag, he inadvertently moved the selector handle from the BOTH position to the RIGHT tank position.
With his destination in sight, the pilot initiated a slow descent. Approximately 3 to 4 miles north of the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to move the fuel selector to another tank, but the shoulder pad of the strap was securely wedged under the handle, preventing movement.
Forced Landing
Unable to extend the glide because of low altitude, the pilot notified the airport of his intentions and made a forced landing on a dirt road. As the airplane came over a slight rise in the road that dropped off abruptly, it became airborne again. A left crosswind caused the airplane to drift off the right side of the road, and it struck a cedar tree.