What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot departed 61TE to the south and lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot made a 180 degree turn and attempted to land to the north at 61TE. The aircraft impacted a steel pipe fence 20 feet short of the runway. Upon investigation the fuel selector was on the left fuel tank and wing flaps were extended. The left fuel tank had approximately 1 cup of fuel that was contaminated with water and did not appear to be leaking. The right tank was empty but had been leaking some fuel according to law enforcement on the scene. The pilot stated that he had checked the fuel quantity prior to takeoff by using the fuel gauge which read 1/8 in the left and 3/8 in the right. The pilot stated that he switched the tank when the engine quit.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT DEPARTED 61TE TO THE SOUTH AND LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND TO THE NORTH AT 61TE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A STEEL PIPE FENCE 20 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. UPON INVESTIGATION THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND WING FLAPS WERE EXTENDED. THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 1 CUP OF FUEL THAT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE LEAKING. THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY BUT HAD BEEN LEAKING SOME FUEL ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE SCENE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF BY USING THE FUEL GAUGE WHICH READ 1/8 IN THE LEFT AND 3/8 IN THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED THE TANK WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7LC · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.