Incident Summary
During climb to 8,000 feet, the aircraft experienced a total loss of power from both engines. The pilots attempted to return to the departure airport but were unsuccessful. They subsequently made an emergency landing on an interstate highway.
Emergency Landing
The emergency landing resulted in damage to all landing gear. The aircraft came to rest on the highway after the unscheduled descent.
Fuel Management
Post-accident inspection revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. Prior to takeoff, the crew observed conflicting fuel quantity indications. Despite this, no attempt was made to determine the actual fuel quantity before departure. The aircraft had a known history of fuel quantity indicating problems.
Aircraft History
The aircraft had a documented history of fuel quantity indicating system issues, which were not addressed prior to the flight.