What happened
On November 28, 2010, a Piper PA-34-200T, registration N36405, was performing a cross-country flight from Sugar Land (SGR), Texas, to Shreveport (SHV), Louisiana. At approximately 11:23 CST, while cruising at 2,900 feet MSL, the pilot reported that the left engine RPM and manifold pressure dropped significantly.
The pilot attempted to divert to the nearest airport, Nacogdoches (OCH). While entering the traffic pattern and turning onto the base leg for runway 18, the right engine also lost power. The pilot subsequently performed a wheels-up forced landing at the intersection of FM225 and CR711, approximately 600 feet before the runway. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained one minor injury.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 130 degrees at 07 knots.
The investigation
FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and noted that the airplane had recently undergone repairs to the mixture cables and a new interior installation. While the pilot believed the aircraft departed with full fuel, inspectors estimated the aircraft may have departed with only 49 gallons of fuel on board. They suggested that fuel may have overflowed the filler neck during fueling the previous evening, leading the pilot to believe the tanks were full when they were not.
An airframe and powerplant mechanic arrived at the site one hour after the accident and reported a strong smell of avgas. He noted that the impact with trees had compromised all six fuel tanks. During recovery the following morning, the mechanic estimated there were at least 10 to 15 gallons of fuel in both the left and right wing tanks. No mechanical anomalies were identified by the inspectors during the post-accident examination.