Dual Engine Failure Forces Landing in Bean Field; Fuselage Destroyed by Post-Crash Fire (N13DT)

Incident Overview

The pilot had canceled his instrument flight plan and was navigating to the airport using visual references. While on final approach, the left engine ceased operation; immediately afterward, the right engine also lost power. The pilot then recognized that he had neglected to change the fuel selector from the auxiliary tanks to the main tanks before beginning the approach, resulting in complete depletion of the auxiliary fuel. Because the aircraft did not have sufficient altitude to attempt an in-flight restart of the engines, the pilot executed a forced landing in a bean field located short of the airport runway.

Aftermath

After the airplane came to a complete stop, the occupants evacuated the aircraft. Subsequently, a post-crash fire ignited and consumed the entire fuselage.