What happened
A Cessna T303 experienced a total loss of power in both engines while on the final approach to runway 30. The aircraft subsequently collided with a localizer (LOC) antenna. The pilot reported that the engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
The flight involved five stops for cargo pickup and delivery. This route is typically flown daily by different pilots. The aircraft is not refueled at its base of operations but rather at an intermediate stop. Consequently, the aircraft is rarely fully fueled before the day's flight, requiring the pilot to estimate fuel levels via visual inspection during preflight.
Prior to this incident, two weeks earlier, the pilot had questioned the chief pilot about the procedure and the fuel level, receiving assurance that it was acceptable. However, investigation revealed that the aircraft had not been refueled at the intermediate stop the preceding day. After lowering the landing gear on final approach, the aircraft lost between 150 and 200 feet of altitude before striking the antenna.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the fuel management procedures and the mechanical state of the aircraft. It was determined that the aircraft had not been refueled at the intermediate stop the day before the accident. This omission, combined with the reliance on visual inspection for fuel estimation in an aircraft that is not fully fueled at its base, led to the critical shortage.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was fuel exhaustion. The procedure of estimating fuel levels visually without a full tank at the base created a high risk of miscalculation. The lack of refueling the previous day at the intermediate stop directly resulted in insufficient fuel for the flight. The pilot's prior concerns about the procedure were not adequately addressed, allowing the unsafe practice to continue.