Accident Details
A pilot reported that his airplane had been flying for approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes since its last fueling, which included two takeoffs and climbs. Toward the end of a long cross-country flight, during the approach to the destination airport, the engine lost all power. At that time, the airplane was about 3 miles from the destination airport at an altitude of 1,200 feet above ground level. The fuel selector was positioned to the left main fuel tank when the power loss occurred. The pilot moved the selector to the right main fuel tank, but the engine did not regain power.
Forced Landing
The pilot then performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, he had to veer left to avoid an automobile, and the left wing impacted a median. The airplane spun 180 degrees and came to rest upright.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings. The inspector noted that the left wing fuel tank was intact and did not contain any fuel. The right wing fuel tank had been compromised, but only on the top of the tank, and no fuel leaked from it. The inspector observed approximately half a gallon of fuel in the right main fuel tank. No mechanical malfunctions were observed that would have contributed to the loss of engine power, nor did the pilot report any.