Incident Overview
A single-engine airplane experienced a loss of engine power while cruising at 3,000 feet approximately 15 nautical miles north of Bomar Field - Shelbyville Municipal Airport in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The pilot reported that the engine sputtered and lost power, prompting him to move the fuel selector from the auxiliary fuel tank to the right main fuel tank. He established glide airspeed and notified Nashville air traffic control of the power loss.
Pilot Actions and Landing Attempt
According to the pilot, he attempted to locate a road or clearing for an emergency landing but could not distinguish the terrain due to darkness. He glided the airplane toward a dark area, then activated the landing light, immediately seeing treetops. The airplane subsequently collided with trees and the ground. The elevation at the accident site was approximately 830 feet.
Mechanical and Operational Factors
The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. He explained that he had intended to switch fuel tanks within five or ten minutes but inadvertently allowed the auxiliary tank to run out of fuel before changing to a tank that contained fuel.