Emergency Declaration
At an undisclosed time, the pilot of an aircraft declared an emergency, stating he was losing power on the right engine and could not maintain altitude. The aircraft subsequently stalled and crashed in a field.
Descent and Communication
At 1405 EST, the aircraft was instructed to contact Hulman Approach and descend to 3,000 feet MSL. However, the Mode C transponder indicated the aircraft was below that altitude. A clearance to 2,600 feet was issued, at which time the pilot reported that the right engine had quit. Vectors to a nearby airport were provided, but the pilot was unable to locate it.
Accident Sequence
Shortly after the pilot reported the engine failure, the aircraft impacted the terrain in a near 60-degree nose-down attitude.
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident inspection revealed several issues with the right engine. The right engine fuel selector was positioned on the right main tank, which was empty. Additionally, the fuel selector was corroded. The right magneto coils showed signs of cracking when hot. Testing of the right engine spark plugs found that 90% of the plugs would not fire above 50 psi pressure. The right propeller was not feathered.