SEA82DA097

Factual narrative

DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS PARTIALLY FULL, BUT THE LEFT TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THE LEFT TANK WAS SERVICED WITH 12 GALLONS OF FUEL, BUT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. THE ENTIRE FLIGHT WAS FLOWN WITHOUT REPOSITIONING THE FUEL SELECTOR. JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING A DOWNWIND FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE FALTERED. THE PILOT CYCLED THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE REGAINED NORMAL POWER MOMENTARILY, THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE PILOT HEADED FOR THE NEAREST RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE THAT FAR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A LANDING IN A FIELD WITH TERRACES, ABOUT 700 FT FROM THE NEAREST RUNWAY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12