NTSB Factual Report

On September 7, 2007, at 1608 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N6070X, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on initial climb from Corona Municipal Airport (AJO), Corona, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated approximately 5 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot initially reported that he departed with 6 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 16 gallons in the right tank. In a later statement, he said the left tank had 9 gallons of fuel and the right tank had 20 gallons of fuel. As the airplane climbed through 500 feet, the engine "sputtered" and subsequently "quit." The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide and turned back to the airport. He attempted an engine restart with no success, and executed a forced landing to a construction site. The airplane touched down in rough terrain, and the landing gear sheared off. Additionally, the left wing was bent up at the wing root, and the fuselage was wrinkled.

When the salvage personnel recovered the airplane, they drained 16 gallons of fuel from the right wing tank and 1 cup of fuel from the left wing tank. Examination of the airplane found the fuel tanks intact and the fuel lines not compromised. Additionally, no fuel was found in the entire engine fuel system.

NTSB Probable Cause

Fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's fuel system mismanagement and failure to select a tank containing fuel.