What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot reported aircraft engine died at approximately 3500 feet and after several attempts to restart decided to make an emergency landing. Aircraft went over a tree line hitting the tops of the trees. On the other side of the tree line the left wing hit a power pole and spun the aircraft into a small field across the road causing substantial damage. Upon examination of the aircraft it was found that the right fuel tank was empty and the fuel tank selector valve was in the right position. The left tank had approximately 5 gallons. Pilot said he believed the fuel selector valve was in the both position but does not remember if he looked at it during the preflight. Pilot received counseling, see ptrs SW03202000891.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT REPORTED AIRCRAFT ENGINE DIED AT APPROXIMATELY 3500 FEET AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART DECIDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. AIRCRAFT WENT OVER A TREE LINE HITTING THE TOPS OF THE TREES. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREE LINE THE LEFT WING HIT A POWER POLE AND SPUN THE AIRCRAFT INTO A SMALL FIELD ACROSS THE ROAD CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE RIGHT POSITION. THE LEFT TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 5 GALLONS. PILOT SAID HE BELIEVED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE BOTH POSITION BUT DOES NOT REMEMBER IF HE LOOKED AT IT DURING THE PREFLIGHT. PILOT RECEIVED COUNSELING, SEE PTRS SW03202000891.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.