What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was on an IFR flight plan enroute from lakeway, TX. (3R9) to sugarland, TX. (Sgr) on 04/07/2007 at approximately 12:00 local time when given instructions to descend to 3,000'. When required altitude of 3,000' was attained, the pilot stated, "the aircraft engine sputtered then cut out". The pilot stated that he was on the left fuel tank and switched to the right fuel tank but was unable to restart the engine. The pilot initiated a landing configuration to a grass landing strip in close proximity (gear down). Unable to make the grass landing area, the pilot attempted to land in a pasture area. Due to impact forces with the landing gear in the down position the aircraft received substantial damage. Post examination of the aircraft indicated zero fuel in the left wing. The right wing contained, what appeared to be, a substantial amount of fuel. The left fuel tank was not breached during the landing. The aircraft came to rest at a magnetic heading of approximately 330 degrees. The fuel tank selector indicated the right tank was selected. There were no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN ENROUTE FROM LAKEWAY, TX. (3R9) TO SUGARLAND, TX. (SGR) ON 04/07/2007 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 LOCAL TIME WHEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO DESCEND TO 3,000'. WHEN REQUIRED ALTITUDE OF 3,000' WAS ATTAINED, THE PILOT STATED, "THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SPUTTERED THEN CUT OUT". THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE PILOT INITIATED A LANDING CONFIGURATION TO A GRASS LANDING STRIP IN CLOSE PROXIMITY (GEAR DOWN). UNABLE TO MAKE THE GRASS LANDING AREA, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A PASTURE AREA. DUE TO IMPACT FORCES WITH THE LANDING GEAR IN THE DOWN POSITION THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT INDICATED ZERO FUEL IN THE LEFT WING. THE RIGHT WING CONTAINED, WHAT APPEARED TO BE, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NOT BREACHED DURING THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT A MAGNETIC HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 330 DEGREES. THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR INDICATED THE RIGHT TANK WAS SELECTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.