Accident Details
After takeoff, during the initial climb at approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine of the unregistered two-seat airplane lost power. The pilot described the airplane's handling as "mushy." The passenger began to panic, and the pilot found it difficult to concentrate and understand the situation.
Pilot Actions
As the airplane lost altitude, the pilot maneuvered to find a suitable field for landing. He noticed a power line ahead and was able to clear it, but the airplane subsequently struck the top of a tree, resulting in substantial damage. During maneuvering, the pilot observed that when he turned the airplane slightly to the right, it "wanted to fly," and when he lowered the nose to maintain airspeed, the power seemed to increase slightly.
Examination Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tank was half full, but the fuel shutoff valve was in the "OFF" (closed) position. The horizontally mounted fuel filter, located downstream of the closed shutoff valve, was only one-third full and did not contain enough fuel to reach the inlet or outlet ports. The fuel line to the carburetor was devoid of fuel, and the carburetor float bowl contained less than a teaspoon of fuel.