Flight Details
The aircraft was conducting a round trip flight from Barrow, Alaska, to Point Hope, Alaska, and return. After landing at Point Hope, a 20-minute delay occurred while waiting for ground crew. The pilot reported running the engines for approximately 10 minutes due to high winds and cold temperatures. The wind averaged about 45 knots, which the pilot stated was too strong to maintain control on top of the aircraft for refueling.
Return Journey
The pilot calculated having sufficient fuel to return to Barrow. During the return flight, the pilot flew past two possible refueling points and a third location where a landing could have been made.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
While over water near the destination, the left engine flamed out. The pilot then incorrectly shut down the right engine. He was able to restart the right engine, but it soon flamed out as well. A successful forced landing was subsequently made on the tundra. According to the pilot, the engine flameout occurred due to lack of fuel.