What happened
On the morning of the accident, the pilot performed a visual inspection of the fuel levels, noting approximately 55 gallons in both the left and right tanks. After a 1.5-hour flight and a subsequent landing, the pilot departed for the return trip to the original departure point without performing another visual fuel check.
During the flight, the pilot observed that the fuel quantity gauge for the left tank was dropping at an excessive rate. As a precautionary measure, the pilot diverted to a nearby airport. While flying at approximately 4,000 feet, both engines sputtered and lost power within seconds of each other. Unable to reach the intended airport, the pilot performed an off-field landing into trees. The pilot reported that at the time of the power loss, the right tank indicated about 20 gallons and the left tank indicated about 10 gallons. There were no injuries reported. No fire or significant liquid fuel spills were observed at the site, though a small amount of residual fuel and a fuel odor were present.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction regarding the engines, fuel strainers, or fuel selector valves. The right fuel selector valve was positioned between the OFF and X-FEED positions, while the left fuel selector valve was found halfway between the OFF and LEFT positions. However, it was noted that impact forces could have altered the position of these valves. Due to the compromised state of the fuel system following the impact, investigators could not positively determine the exact amount of fuel on board at the time of the accident.