Accident Details
On November 27, 2024, at approximately 0005 central standard time, a Cessna 340A, registration N5757C, sustained substantial damage when it struck a static aircraft display during a forced landing near Muskogee, Oklahoma. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, while three passengers were uninjured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight and Fuel Management
The pilot reported that before departing from Mission Field Airport (LVM) in Livingston, Montana, the airplane was topped off with 100 low lead fuel, totaling 183 gallons. The pilot performed a night preflight inspection using only a cellular phone for light, as his headlamp was unavailable. He typically checked fuel levels by feeling inside the tank with a finger but did not do so for the right main tank on this occasion.
The pilot calculated a fuel requirement of 150 gallons for the flight. The airplane's fuel system consisted of two main tanks (51 gallons each, 50 usable), two auxiliary tanks (32 gallons each, 31.5 usable), and one left side locker tank (20.5 gallons, 20 usable). Fuel could not be transferred from auxiliary tanks to main tanks; instead, auxiliary fuel was fed directly to the engine on the same side via the fuel selector. Locker tank fuel was transferred to the associated main tank using a pump.
During the first half of the flight, conducted in instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot operated the engines at 100° rich of peak exhaust gas temperature, which he noted led to higher fuel consumption. The heater was used during the first half and occasionally in the second half. While en route, the pilot transferred fuel from the auxiliary and locker tanks to the main tanks. After the final transfer, he calculated adequate fuel including reserves for the destination. However, over Tulsa, about 50 miles from Muskogee-Davis Regional Airport (MKO), the indicated fuel levels were lower than expected.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
Shortly after being cleared for a visual approach at MKO, the right engine lost total power, followed by the left engine. Attempts to restart both engines were unsuccessful. At the time of power loss, the pilot reported approximately 30 lbs (4.84 gallons) of fuel remaining on the left side and 30–35 lbs (4.84–5.65 gallons) on the right side.
During the forced landing, the right wing struck a U.S. Air Force T-33A jet trainer mounted as a permanent static display on airport property, located about 3,350 feet northwest of the approach end of Runway 13. The airplane came to rest upright. All occupants egressed without further incident.
Post-Accident Examination
On-site examination revealed no fuel blighting on the grass. The right main and right auxiliary fuel tanks separated from the wing during impact and sustained damage; all other tanks remained intact and had no fuel observed inside. Fuel tank caps were installed. Fuel bladder integrity was confirmed, with no collapse. The left fuel selector was positioned to the left main tank, and the right selector to the right auxiliary tank. No fuel leakage was noted on the airframe or engines. No usable fuel was recovered during recovery operations.
The airplane was not equipped with the optional low fuel level warning light system, which would provide a cockpit warning when main tank fuel reached about 60 lbs (9.68 gallons). It also lacked a digital engine monitor or fuel flow indicator. Maintenance records showed the most recent annual inspection was completed on October 3, 2023, at 2,980.4 hours airframe total time.