Primary finding
Probable cause
The flight crew’s fuel mismanagement resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight instructor was giving instruction to a private pilot. After an uneventful flight, the airplane was near its intended destination airport to make a full stop landing. The engine lost power and a forced landing was made about 0.27 miles from the airport. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The airplane had usable fuel in the right fuel tank. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction had selected the left fuel tank, which ran dry. The engine lost power due to fuel starvation. The operator stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that precluded normal operation.