What happened
During the preflight run-up, the pilot became distracted and failed to switch the fuel selector to the left tank. At the time of takeoff, the Cessna aircraft contained approximately 10 gallons of fuel, distributed between two 18-gallon wing tanks.
Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine stopped running. The pilot attempted to switch fuel tanks in an effort to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. The aircraft subsequently impacted the runway in a nose-low attitude. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, and the pilot was not injured.
Findings
According to the pilot, the aircraft's owner's manual, checklist, placards, and flight instructor all specify that takeoff using only the right fuel tank with less than one-third of the fuel remaining is prohibited.