He took off nearly empty of fuel, thought 1 of the two was full IIRC...
One of two tanks was full. The one connected to the fuel pump was empty. He did not have time to switch tanks before he crashed. The empty tank had just a enough fuel to impart a dangerous dose of kinetic energy, but not enough to maintain flight or achieve altitude. The full tank had more than enough fuel to burn him to a cinder. BTW, he had just bought the plane and it was his first day flying it. RIP.