What happened
A twin-engine aircraft was operating a flight originating from Kenora, Ontario, with a planned stop at International Falls Airport before continuing to Milwaukee. The flight was carrying a pilot and eight passengers when both engines ceased functioning during the journey. Following the loss of power, air traffic control directed the pilot toward Watertown Airport to attempt an emergency descent.
During the final approach, the pilot determined that the aircraft could not reach the runway. To mitigate the impact, the landing gear was retracted, and the aircraft performed a belly landing in a nearby field. The plane slid for several dozen yards before coming to a stop. While there were no fatalities, all nine occupants sustained serious injuries, and the twin-engine aircraft was destroyed.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary reason for the dual engine failure was fuel exhaustion. Several contributing factors were identified regarding the pilot's management of the flight, including:
- Inadequate preparation prior to the flight
- Errors in calculating fuel consumption
- Failure to refuel during the trip
- Improper management of available fuel
- The decision to perform a wheels-up landing
- Conducting the approach toward a closed runway