On October 8, 1996, a Cessna 177, N2286Y, registered to St. Clairs Stateline Inc., operated by Aviation Specialist Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, crashed on takeoff from an open field in the vicinity of Ringgold, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he had made a forced landing in the open field earlier in the day after experiencing a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Fuel was brought to the forced landing area and added to the fuel tanks. He started the airplane, completed an engine run up and departed. He used 3/4 of the available open field before becoming airborne. He started a left turn and the left wing tip collided with trees and crashed into the terrain.