Narrative:

While on final approach the engine suddenly lost power. The crew attempted to restart the engine by switching fuel tanks and following the emergency procedures. There was not sufficient time to restart the engine; so an off field landing was made without damage to the aircraft; persons; or property. It was later determined that there was insufficient fuel in the operational fuel tank even though there was sufficient fuel in the other fuel tank; but there was not enough time to achieve a restart. In the future; one possible way to prevent the problem from happening is to make sure that the fuel selector is on the fullest tank prior to commencing the approach.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE33 instructor pilot experiences power loss on final approach and lands successfully off airport. Insufficient fuel in the selected tank caused the power loss.

Narrative: While on final approach the engine suddenly lost power. The crew attempted to restart the engine by switching fuel tanks and following the emergency procedures. There was not sufficient time to restart the engine; so an off field landing was made without damage to the aircraft; persons; or property. It was later determined that there was insufficient fuel in the operational fuel tank even though there was sufficient fuel in the other fuel tank; but there was not enough time to achieve a restart. In the future; one possible way to prevent the problem from happening is to make sure that the fuel selector is on the fullest tank prior to commencing the approach.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.