What happened
The pilot departed from his home airport and flew to an intermediate airport approximately one hour away. Before beginning the return flight, the pilot fueled the twin-engine airplane with 20 gallons of fuel, distributed as 10 gallons in each outboard tank.
Approximately 45 minutes after departing the intermediate airport, witnesses observed the aircraft on final approach to the home airport. During this approach, the aircraft performed a hard left turn and impacted a field. Witnesses reported hearing at least one engine running during the descent, with another observer noting that the engine sound fluctuated between throttle and no throttle prior to impact.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that both the right inboard and right outboard fuel tanks were ruptured, resulting in more than 15 gallons of fuel draining from the right wing. On the right side, the fuel selector valve and handle were set to the inboard position, and the propeller blades showed rotational signatures.
The left side of the aircraft remained largely intact; both the left inboard and outboard tanks were undamaged. The left outboard tank contained only a trace amount of fuel, while the left inboard tank held approximately 10 gallons. The left engine fuel selector valve was set to the outboard tank. Investigators found no fuel in the line between the left engine fuel pump and the fuel servo, though trace amounts were present in the fuel distributor and the regulator section of the fuel servo. Unlike the right engine, the left engine propeller showed no rotational signatures and was not in the feathered position.
No pre-impact mechanical anomalies were identified in either the aircraft or the engines.