Background
On February 26, 1999, a pilot who had worked all day took a late-night flight from Seattle, Washington, arriving in Fort Worth, Texas, at approximately 0530. The pilot then flew the accident airplane—which he was planning to purchase—for about one hour.
Departure and Fuel
He departed Fort Worth Meacham International Airport with 144 gallons of fuel on board, bound for Denver, Colorado. After using all fuel in the auxiliary tanks, he switched back to the main tanks.
Engine Power Loss
Approximately 20 minutes after switching to the mains, the left engine lost power. The pilot attempted to manipulate the fuel cross-feed system and restart the left engine. He turned the airplane toward Lamar, Colorado, and then the right engine also lost power.
Forced Landing
During the ensuing forced landing, the nose wheel landing gear separated from the airplane, subsequently damaging the nose cone and both engine mounts.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the main fuel tanks revealed that approximately 8 gallons had been used from each. No evidence was found during the investigation to indicate any abnormalities in the fuel feed system.