Private aircraft sustains substantial damage after fuel exhaustion during initial climb (N3089N)

What happened

The flight was conducted from a private airstrip. During the initial climb phase, the pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power. The aircraft subsequently impacted a runway marker located near the departure area. Following this impact, the airplane nosed over. An inspection of the airframe confirmed that the event resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft structure.

The investigation

A post-accident examination of the airplane was conducted to determine the mechanical status of the engine and fuel system. The inspection revealed that there was no usable fuel remaining in the fuel tanks at the time of the incident. Investigators found no anomalies associated with the loss of engine power that would suggest a mechanical failure independent of the fuel state.

Findings

The primary factor contributing to this accident was fuel exhaustion. The absence of usable fuel in the tanks directly led to the cessation of engine power during the critical initial climb phase. No other mechanical issues or environmental factors were identified as contributing causes.