Accident Overview
On August 9, 2015, at 0925 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 421B, registration N726JB, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain at Clovis Municipal Airport (CVN) in Clovis, New Mexico. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Melrose, New Mexico, and was destined for CVN, a distance of about 30 miles.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported hearing the airplane's engines making "popping" sounds as it approached and entered the traffic pattern. The left wing then contacted the ground short of runway 12, causing the airplane to cartwheel. A post-impact fire ensued, severely damaging the wings and fuselage.
Pilot Statement
In a limited statement to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Coordinator, the pilot said he had ample fuel for the short flight when both engines began to surge. He attempted to switch both fuel tanks to the Auxiliary position but inadvertently moved the left fuel selector to Off. This resulted in a total loss of left engine power. The pilot reported being too high to land on runway 22 and attempted to land on runway 12. However, the airplane impacted terrain approximately 1,000 feet southeast of the runway 12/22 intersection, between the runway and the parallel taxiway. The aircraft was traveling southeast in an attempt to land on runway 12 before losing control.
Wreckage Examination
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage. Due to post-impact damage and fire, the total amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident could not be determined. No anomalies were found with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1 was not received from the pilot.