What happened
During a cross-country flight at an altitude of 10,500 feet MSL, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of power in the left engine. The pilot successfully secured the malfunctioning engine and attempted to proceed to the intended destination. However, the right engine subsequently lost all power as well.
Following the dual engine failure, the pilot identified an appropriate airport for an emergency landing and entered the traffic pattern. During the short final approach, after the landing gear had been extended, the aircraft lost all airspeed and ceased to maintain flight. The aircraft impacted the ground approximately 200 to 300 yards before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused substantial damage to the fuselage and the wings.
Findings
An investigation into the engine failures revealed that the aircraft had run out of fuel. While only a minimal amount of fuel was recovered from the left tank, the fuel gauges indicated that both tanks were empty when power was applied to the system. There were no visible signs of fuel leaks, such as discoloration on the nacelles or wings, and neither fuel tank was punctured during the event. The evidence suggests that the loss of engine power was caused by fuel exhaustion.