Incident Summary
A pilot was conducting a VOR/DME approach to runway 31. After intercepting a 12-mile arc, he applied power to level off at 2,800 feet MSL but received no response. He attempted to restore power by moving the mixture controls to full rich, selecting the main fuel tanks, activating the fuel pumps, and checking the magneto switches, but all efforts were unsuccessful.
Forced Landing
The pilot then turned the aircraft into the wind and instructed passengers to prepare for a hard landing. Upon descending out of clouds, he observed a corn field ahead and touched down there. During the landing, the aircraft struck corn stalks, and the landing gear collapsed on the wet ground.
Post-accident Examination
After the event, investigators found that the auxiliary fuel tanks contained virtually no fuel. The main tanks were approximately one-third to two-thirds full. No pre-impact or mechanical anomalies were discovered. Both engines were functionally tested and operated normally, indicating no inherent powerplant failure.
Findings
The source material does not assign a probable cause. However, the fuel distribution—absent in auxiliary tanks but present in main tanks—and the absence of mechanical defects suggest that fuel management may have been a factor, though this is not explicitly stated in the investigation report.