On 12 Sep 2013, a CESSNA M337B operated by ARTEMIS INC was involved in an aviation accident near Spanish Fork, UT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly manage fuel which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of power to the forward engine. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that during a low-altitude flight, failure to transfer fuel from right to left wing tanks caused the left tanks to run empty, resulting in forward engine power loss and a forced landing in a corn field, damaging the engine firewall.
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.