Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to switch fuel tanks and his failure to perform the prescribed emergency procedures following the fuel starvation induced engine failure. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the emergency landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the student pilot, after about an hour in flight, he switched the fuel selector from both to the left tank. During descent into his destination area, the engine quit. The pilot stated that he had forgotten to switch tanks and had run the left tank dry. He said that he concentrated on flying the airplane and did not attempt to switch tanks and restart the engine. He selected a cotton field as a forced landing area; however, he overshot and the airplane landed in a mesquite thicket. After rolling through the thicket, the airplane came to rest in a four foot deep stock pond.
Source record
Factual narrative
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