PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125.5; Flight Crew Total 13500; Flight Crew Type 20
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Human Factors
During cruise flight at 2;200 MSL I experienced an engine failure resulting in a forced landing on a golf course. No injuries occurred with damage to the nose gear and a resultant prop strike with engine wind milling. Initial investigation determined that the fuel selector was in the left tip tank position (17Gal) and the left tip tank was empty. I agree with this finding. During my preflight my intention was to burn out of the left main tank (25Gal); but I misidentified which tank was selected resulting in fuel starvation leading to the forced landing.
The pilot of a Piper PA32 made an off-field landing following loss of engine power. It was later determined that the fuel system was feeding from an empty fuel tank.