Piper PA28-235, VH-FAR, Kulpra Station NSW,(38 km SE of Mildura) VIC, 11 September 1987

The purpose of the flight was to return to Underbool after visiting friends and relatives at Kulpra Station. On DEPARTURE from Underbool the aircraft carried 136 litres of fuel, 68 litres in each main tank, the tip tanks were empty. The flight to Kulpra was conducted using fuel from the right main tank. The pilot stated that at an altitude of about ten feet after lift-off, the engine failed. The aircraft was landed back on the strip, heavily on the nosewheel, and the nosegear subsequently collapsed. The pilot reported that on inspection the fuel tank selector was positioned to draw fuel from the empty left wingtip tank instead of the left main tank.