On October 19, 1996, a Cessna 310Q (registration N8226) was involved in an aviation accident near Pasadena, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and inadequate management of the airplane's fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing at night. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot departed with an undetermined fuel quantity despite an inaccurate fuel gauge. After two legs and purchasing 50 gallons, he estimated two hours of fuel for a one-hour flight. Both engines failed after about 1 hour 40 minutes due to fuel exhaustion, leading to a descent into wooded terrain. No fuel was found at the site.
Departure and Fuel Management
The pilot began the first of three flight legs with an undetermined amount of fuel. He informed the passenger that the fuel quantity indicating system was inaccurate but asserted that he knew the actual fuel on board. After completing two legs, the pilot purchased a total of 50 gallons of fuel en route. For the final leg to BWI, the pilot estimated that the airplane carried a two-hour fuel load for a flight anticipated to last one hour.
Sequence of Events
During the approach to BWI, the airplane intercepted the localizer course for the ILS Runway 28 approach at an altitude of 3,000 feet. The passenger reported that the aircraft suddenly began yawing violently left and right as both engines alternated in power output and then lost all power. The pilot asked which engine was failing, and the passenger replied that both were failing due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot attempted to access fuel from the auxiliary tanks, but no fuel was available anywhere in the aircraft. Subsequently, both engines ceased producing power, and the airplane descended into wooded terrain. The engines stopped approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes after departure.
Post-Accident Observations
No fuel or evidence of fuel was found at the accident site.