What happened
During a nighttime Part 135 operation, a crew was returning from a completed mission when the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of all engine power. The incident occurred while the aircraft was at a low altitude, leaving the flight crew with insufficient height to successfully restart the engines. As a result, the aircraft struck the ground, and a significant fire broke out upon impact, which completely destroyed the airframe.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary cause of the engine failure was fuel starvation. This occurred because the fuel tanks were not properly transitioned from the main tanks to the auxiliary tanks during the flight. The investigation identified that the crew failed to follow established checklists, specifically regarding the correct positioning of the fuel tank selector. Furthermore, the findings noted inadequate supervision by the pilot in command and improper management of the fuel system by the co-pilot. The crash resulted in two serious injuries to the crew members.