What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
First flight after completion of an annual inspection. Airman taxied from maintenance hangar to RW14 for a short flight to reposition from Z41 Lake Hood Strip to mri merrill field. Normal takeoff, climb to 150' AGL and the engine quit running. Pilot elected to make 90 degree right turn to land on lakeshore drive. Hard landing resulted in substantial damage and minor injuries to both pilot and passenger. Post accident inspection confirmed that the main fuel tank selector was in the off position. Total time of engine operation was 9 minutes from startup to crash landing.
Pilot has been unwilling to directly provide any information about flight training or flight experience, and to date, his attorney has been unresponsive to FAA requests for information. Therefore, this report does not contain information about training, recent flight experience or flight review.
As the FAA filed it
FIRST FLIGHT AFTER COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AIRMAN TAXIED FROM MAINTENANCE HANGAR TO RW14 FOR A SHORT FLIGHT TO REPOSITION FROM Z41 LAKE HOOD STRIP TO MRI MERRILL FIELD. NORMAL TAKEOFF, CLIMB TO 150' AGL AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN TO LAND ON LAKESHORE DRIVE. HARD LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND MINOR INJURIES TO BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE MAIN FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. TOTAL TIME OF ENGINE OPERATION WAS 9 MINUTES FROM STARTUP TO CRASH LANDING.
PILOT HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO DIRECTLY PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT FLIGHT TRAINING OR FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND TO DATE, HIS ATTORNEY HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO FAA REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION. THEREFORE, THIS REPORT DOES NOT CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT TRAINING, RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OR FLIGHT REVIEW.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.