Incident Overview
A pilot reported that on the day of the accident, he chose to fly with a light and slightly uneven fuel load to accommodate additional equipment and people on board. During the low-altitude flight, the pilot did not transfer fuel from the right wing fuel tanks to the left wing fuel tanks. As a result, the left wing fuel tanks ran empty, causing the forward engine to lose power.
Forced Landing
After the engine power loss, the pilot decided to land in a nearby corn field. During the landing, the airplane's forward engine firewall sustained substantial damage.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation.