What happened
During the final approach phase of flight, the pilot requested an immediate downwind turn to return to the airfield. Upon being cleared for landing, the pilot indicated that no emergency services were required, though he noted a concern regarding fuel levels. An eyewitness observed the aircraft type flying at a very low altitude on its final approach with both propellers operational.
The aircraft subsequently crashed short of the runway, breaching a perimeter fence and coming to a stop on an incline approximately 10 feet from the runway threshold. The pilot sustained a head injury during the impact and experienced memory loss regarding the specific details of the event. While initial indications suggested a partial power loss and a yawing motion, the pilot's ability to recall whether an engine had failed was inconsistent.
Post-accident inspections revealed that only six gallons of fuel remained in the left main tank and approximately 1.5 gallons in the right main tank, with each tank containing one gallon of unusable fuel. While the left fuel selector was set to the main position, the status of the right selector could not be confirmed due to wreckage damage. Additionally, both auxiliary pump switches were found in the off position.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the pilot's actions and the aircraft's fuel state. The primary cause was determined to be fuel starvation resulting from inadequate preflight planning and a failure to refuel the aircraft. Other findings included improper decision-making regarding the emergency landing, the presence of alcohol in the pilot's blood (0.45‰), and the impact with terrain and a perimeter fence during the forced landing.