What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was descending toward an altitude of 3,000 feet mean sea level. During this phase of flight, the pilot initiated a procedure to switch the fuel supply from the outboard tanks to the inboard tanks. Although the switch was engaged, the pilot did not verify that the selector had successfully moved to the inboard position.
Shortly after the switch, a total loss of power occurred on the right engine. The pilot did not feather the propeller of the affected engine. Instead, he elected to execute a forced landing on a nearby golf course. During the approach and touchdown, the nose gear struck a fence. Subsequently, the left wing impacted a tree.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the power loss and the subsequent impact. Key findings included the failure to confirm the fuel selector position and the lack of propeller feathering after the engine failure. The physical damage to the aircraft was consistent with the described impact sequence involving the fence and tree.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to confirm the fuel tank selection, which led to a total loss of power on the right engine. This mechanical failure necessitated an emergency landing in an unprepared area, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft structure upon impact with ground obstacles.