Introduction
A pilot was on final approach when the engine began to run out of fuel. The pilot recalled that her boss had encountered a similar problem on a previous flight and had corrected it by pitching the nose up and down to force fuel into the lines. The pilot attempted the same technique but had no memory of events after that.
Accident Sequence
A witness observed the airplane pitching up and down several times before it struck the ground. After the crash, the witness responded and noted that the fuel selector was set to the "both" position. No fuel was leaking from either fuel tank's gas cap. When the airplane was righted, several gallons of fuel drained from the left tank, but none from the right tank. The witness visually checked the right fuel tank and found it empty; the left tank contained about 9 gallons (approximately 6.5 gallons usable).
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a postaccident examination. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward engine mounts, right wing, and vertical stabilizer and rudder. Approximately 6 gallons of fuel was drained from the left wing tank, and the right tank was empty. The terrain around the left tank showed discolored vegetation from fuel, but the area around the right tank did not. No pre-mishap mechanical discrepancies were noted with the engine or airplane that would have precluded normal operation.