Accident Overview
A pilot flying a single-engine airplane reported that 9.5 gallons of fuel were onboard before departure. The flight covered approximately 51 nautical miles at a cruise altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level with an indicated airspeed of 110 knots.
Flight and Landing
During final approach, at about 250 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot elected to land on the grass before the runway. The airplane impacted a ditch approximately 255 feet from the runway's threshold, causing it to become airborne again. The nose gear bent, and the bottom cowling was damaged before the airplane came to a stop.
Post-Accident Actions
A person from the airport used a tractor to assist in towing the airplane into a hangar. During towing, the pilot noticed fuel leaking and reached inside the cabin to turn the fuel selector valve off. The person assisting the pilot later told the airport manager that he did not observe any fuel leakage during the recovery process and confirmed with the pilot that the fuel selector was off before moving the airplane.
Fuel Examination
An FAA inspector conducted a post-accident examination and drained 1.25 gallons of fuel from each wing tank, totaling 2.5 gallons. The airplane's unusable fuel specification is 3.5 gallons.