What happened
The aircraft was cleared for an ILAS approach when both engines lost power as it approached the point of glideslope intercept. The pilot was vectored toward a nearby airport, but upon exiting the clouds, determined the aircraft could not reach the destination. The pilot subsequently initiated a forced landing into a field. During the landing roll, the aircraft crossed a road and the right wing struck a tree. The nose landing gear then separated after striking a dirt berm, though the airplane came to a stop in an upright position.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel system and found the aft main tank was between one-third and one-half full, while the forward main tank was 90% full. In the cockpit, the fuel selector for the main tanks was found in the NORMAL position. Under this setting, the aft tank supplies the left engine and the forward tank supplies the right engine.
No discrepancies were found within the fuel system. When the fuel boost pumps were activated, fuel flowed through the supply lines, and fuel was present in both the airframe and engine fuel filters. An examination of both engines revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
The pilot reported that at the time of the dual engine failure, the fuel selector was set to select the aft tank, which fed both engines from that single source. The pilot stated he switched the selector to the NORMAL position immediately after the engines failed. The aircraft's flight manual specifies that the fuel selector should be positioned to NORMAL prior to takeoff and for landing.