Accident Overview
A pilot purchased 30 gallons of aviation gasoline for a local flight. The fuel was divided between the left and right tanks. The right tank showed a little over one-half full, and the left tank showed a little less than one-half. After departing, the pilot flew south for about two-tenths of an hour, then turned north toward the airport. Approximately five minutes after the turn, the engine power dropped to idle. The pilot engaged carburetor heat and activated the boost pump, which restored normal cruise power.
Pilot Actions
Although the engine resumed normal operation, the pilot later noted, "At this point I should have switched to the right tank." However, the engine ran for only about one minute before quitting completely. At that time, the airplane was approximately 1,500 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that changing the fuel selector valve requires moving the seat back about 18 inches, leaving no control of the aircraft. The pilot reasoned that "a controlled forced landing [was] better than an uncontrolled one."
Conclusion
The pilot stated that the accident was caused by fuel starvation and that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane.