Incident Overview
A multiengine airplane was descending from 9,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) to 3,500 feet MSL when the pilot reported a loss of power to both engines at 6,500 feet MSL. The pilot elected to turn and attempt a landing at a military air force base where the approach lights were visible.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that both engines quit simultaneously, briefly returned to power for approximately half a second, then quit again. He reported being unable to feather the propellers, which were rotating at 2,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). The airplane descended at a high sink rate for roughly half a statute mile.
The landing gear was lowered approximately one and a half statute miles from the end of the runway, and the flaps were extended near the runway threshold. During the final approach, the airplane struck the localizer antenna assembly with the main landing gear, lower left fuselage, and left elevator. It then impacted the runway and slid approximately 525 feet.
Findings
Post-incident examination revealed that the fuel selectors were positioned on the auxiliary tanks, which were found to be dry. Each main fuel tank contained 41 gallons of fuel. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane. The throttles, mixtures, and propeller controls were all positioned full forward.
Investigation
The investigation noted the fuel system configuration and the condition of the tanks. No mechanical issues were identified with the engines or airframe.