ATL94LA105

The private pilot reported that he took off with both fuel tanks showing half full on the gauges, but he did not visually inspect the fuel tanks for fuel prior to the flight. During the descent for landing, the engine lost power. He set up for a forced landing in a cotton field. While trying to align the aircraft with the plowed rows, it stalled about 10 feet AGL, and collided with the ground. An inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, the right fuel tank was selected in the cockpit, and the fuel sump was empty.

On May 24, 1994, at 0830 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N5512P, collided with terrain following an engine power loss near Foley, Alabama. The private pilot had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was on file for the personal flight to Foley. The flight originated at the Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama, at 0825.

The pilot reported that he landed the day before the accident with the left fuel tank selected, which was the fullest tank. At the time, the left tank indicated half full. On the morning of the accident flight, he preflighted the airplane, and both tanks indicated half full on the gauges. He did not perform a visual inspection of either tank prior to the accident flight. During the five minute flight to Foley, he retarded the throttle for the descent. When he added power, there was no response to throttle inputs. He set up for a forced landing in a cotton field. During the approach to the cotton field, he turned to align the airplane with the parallel rows of cotton. The aircraft stalled about 10 feet above the ground, and "nosed in."

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and inspected the wreckage. He reported that the aircraft came to rest in a flat, open field. The area around the aircraft was absent of any ground scars, and there was evidence that the aircraft had impacted the ground in a steep, nose low attitude. The right wing fuel tank was empty of fuel, as was the fuel sump. The fuel tank selector valve was found in the right tank position.