Incident Overview
A pilot took off with the airplane's fuel selector inadvertently placed in the "off" position. Approximately 700 feet above ground level, the engine ceased operation. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.
Emergency Landing
Faced with a non-functioning engine, the pilot executed an emergency landing onto marshy terrain. During the landing, the airplane nosed over. The wings and lift struts sustained substantial damage.
Post-Incident Inspection
The airplane had undergone its annual inspection the day prior to the flight. The pilot did not notice that the fuel selector had been moved to the "off" position. After the incident, when the fuel selector was turned to the "on" position, the engine ran normally.