Incident Overview
A pilot experienced a complete loss of power in both engines during descent, forcing an emergency off-field landing with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings, both engine mounts, and the fuselage after impacting terrain and thick scrub trees.
Sequence of Events
After departing from a previous fuel stop, the pilot relied on a fuel totalizer to monitor fuel quantity. Upon climbing to a cruise altitude of 14,000 feet above ground level, he discovered that the fuel mixture control was frozen, preventing him from leaning the mixture to a lower fuel flow setting. Despite the increased fuel consumption, the pilot briefly considered an intermediate fuel stop but decided to continue the flight.
During the descent phase, both engines lost power completely. The pilot executed an off-field forced landing approximately 7 miles from the destination. The aircraft touched down with the gear retracted.
Postaccident Findings
A postaccident examination revealed that only a trace of fuel remained in the aircraft. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. He attributed the incident to inadequate fuel management, partly resulting from overconfidence developed over 50 years of flying experience.