What happened
Prior to departure from Halfpenny Green, the pilot of G-KINK performed extensive pre-flight inspections on the Cessna 340. During these checks, it was noted that the left main fuel tank was approximately 30% full, while the right main tank held about 40%. The auxiliary wing tanks were full, but the locker tanks were empty. The aircraft departed at 1539 hours for a brief local flight under clear weather conditions.
During the flight, the pilot transitioned fuel from the main tanks to the auxiliary tanks and then back to the main tanks. While maneuvering for an overhead join to Runway 16, the pilot reduced engine power. At this stage, both engines began to falter. Although power was briefly restored and the landing gear was extended, the left engine ceased operation at approximately 300 feet above ground level while on the downwind leg.
With the aircraft descending rapidly, the pilot performed a forced landing into a field of standing crop northwest of the airfield. During the maneuver to avoid farm buildings, the left wing tip made contact with electrical power lines. The impact caused the aircraft to slide and eventually cartwheel, coming to rest in an inverted position. There were zero fatalities among the three occupants, all of whom escaped the wreckage via the cabin door.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage indicated that the left engine suffered from fuel starvation. While fuel was present in the right engine's fuel injection system, none was found in the corresponding area of the left engine. Evidence suggests the fuel valve selectors may have been incorrectly positioned. It was noted that the selectors on this aircraft type require precise operation to ensure engines are fed from separate tanks; if both engines are inadvertently set to draw from a single tank, the engines will fail as that tank is exhausted. In this instance, it is believed the valves were positioned such that both engines were drawing from the left main tank.