What happened
Following the completion of a three-hour aerial mapping mission, the aircraft was positioned on a straight-in, five-mile final approach for landing. Approximately three miles from the runway, the engines experienced a sequential loss of power. The pilot attempted to implement remedial procedures; however, the engines failed to restart, and the aircraft's altitude decreased to roughly 200 feet above the ground.
During the descent, fuel gauges indicated fluctuating levels, with the auxiliary tanks showing between 2 and 5 gallons and the main tanks showing approximately 25 gallons per side. To avoid further impact, the pilot identified a landing site situated between two large trees and executed a forced landing into heavily wooded terrain. No fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident.
Findings
An investigation of the wreckage showed no signs of mechanical malfunctions prior to the impact. The manufacturer's manual specifies that the auxiliary fuel tanks lack pumps and are intended for use during cruise flight, explicitly advising against their use during low-altitude operations below 1,000 feet. The pilot's pre-landing checklist required switching to the main fuel tanks as the first step. It was determined that the failure to switch to the main fuel tanks during the approach contributed to the engine power loss, as the pilot did not perform the necessary fuel selector changes early enough in the landing sequence.