Accident Sequence
While on approach to land, the left engine surged and lost power. The pilot switched the left engine fuel selector to another fuel tank, and the engine restarted. Shortly thereafter, the left engine surged and lost power again. The pilot then switched the left engine fuel selector to the right main fuel tank, and the engine restarted a second time. A short time later, the left engine quit again. The pilot shut down the left engine and feathered the propeller.
Soon after, the right engine surged and lost power. The pilot shut down the right engine and feathered the propeller. With both engines inoperative, the pilot made a forced landing in a field. During the landing rollout, the aircraft's left wing collided with a tree, and a fire erupted in the left wing area.
Post-Crash Examination
Examination after the crash revealed that the right main fuel tank was empty. The right auxiliary fuel tank contained 2.5 gallons. The left main fuel tank contained one-half gallon of fuel, and the left auxiliary tank was ruptured.
Aircraft Fuel System Information
The pilot operating handbook stated that the main fuel tanks had one gallon of unusable fuel each, and the auxiliary fuel tanks had one-half gallon of unusable fuel each.