20011201036399A

(-23) Pilot flew from whp airport enroute to prc at 9,500'. The pilot reports on arrival at prc, fuel tank selector was set to a tank with an adequate quantity of fuel. The engine failed on final approach due to fuel starvation. The pilot changed the fuel selector to a tank with fuel, but the engine did not start until the aircraft was too low to accelerate to a climb speed. The aircraft impacted the ground 150 yards short of runway 21R causing substantial damage and minor injuries to the two occupants. At this time, n causal factors are known. (.4) after flying for 2 hours the airplane arrived at the destination airport. Upon entering the traffic pattern the left seated pilot performed a prelanding check. However, he did not reposition the fuel tank selector from the nearly empty right auxiliary fuel tank to a main tank. Seconds after turning onto the final approach leg, the pilot performed another prelanding check. Again, he did not reposition the fuel tank selector away from the right auxiliary tank. Seconds thereafter, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The pilot then tried to reposition the fuel tank selector, but the pilo t-rated passenger had already accomplished that task. Engine power was restored just prior to the airplane impacting a berm, about 500 feet short of the runway. The left seated pilot held commercial and certified flight instructor certificates. He had about 612 total flight hours including 32 hours in comanches. The right seated pilot-rated passenger also held commercial and certified flight instructor certificates. He had about 1,740 total flight hours, including 40 hours in comanches. The subsequent airplane examination revealed that the left auxiliary fuel tank and the two main tanks jointly contained a total of 50 gallons of fuel. The right auxiliary fuel tank was dry.