Incident Overview
A night instructional instrument flight, planned for two hours, was nearing its end when the airplane's engine lost power at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet above ground level. The certificated flight instructor directed the certificated private pilot to execute a forced landing to a nearby golf course. However, during the final approach, the airplane impacted trees and subsequently cartwheeled.
Postaccident Examination
After the accident, an examination of the airplane was conducted. The right fuel tank was found intact but empty. The left fuel tank had been breached and contained approximately 6 gallons of fuel. Analysis of the soil at the accident site indicated a fuel spill of approximately 20 to 30 gallons. The electric fuel pump switch was found in the "on" position, and the fuel selector valve was positioned to the right fuel tank.
Fuel Consumption and Performance Data
Performance data indicated that the flight would have consumed approximately 25 gallons of fuel, which was roughly half of the total fuel on board at the time of takeoff. This suggests that the airplane had sufficient fuel for the planned flight duration.
Pilot Actions and Procedures
The surviving passenger reported that after the loss of engine power, both pilots focused on finding a suitable landing spot, which was challenging due to the darkness, rather than troubleshooting the power loss. According to the pilot operating handbook, any time fuel starvation is suspected during flight, the fuel selector should immediately be positioned to the other tank and the electric fuel pump switched to the "on" position.