Accident Overview
A pilot on the second leg of a cross-country flight encountered a momentary decrease in engine power, which subsequently returned to normal. Observing that the left fuel tank gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated less than one-quarter full, the pilot initiated a return to the departure airport. During the return, the engine sputtered and lost all power.
Forced Landing and Aftermath
The pilot elected to leave the landing gear and flaps retracted and executed a forced landing in a ditch. The airplane came to rest in an upright position. The pilot and passengers exited the aircraft unassisted. The fuselage and left wing sustained structural damage.
Investigation Findings
An on-site visual inspection of the airplane's fuel tanks revealed a residual amount of fuel. The pilot reported that he did not perform a visual inspection of the airplane's fuel quantity before departure.