What happened
During a nighttime final approach, the left engine of the aircraft suffered a total loss of power. This failure was caused by fuel starvation, as investigators later determined that while auxiliary tanks contained fuel, the nacelle and main tanks were empty. During the period when the pilot attempted to restart the engine, the aircraft drifted right of the runway centerline toward nearby hangars.
Due to the combination of reduced power and prevailing wind conditions, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing on airport grounds. The extension of the landing gear was delayed until shortly before the aircraft reached the ground. Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear had not been fully extended or locked into position. This led to a collapse of the right main gear, causing the aircraft to skid approximately 500 feet before coming to a stop.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified several contributing factors:
- The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel starvation resulting from an improper fuel tank selector position.
- Difficulties during the landing phase were exacerbated by dark night conditions and wind gusts/crosswinds.
- The pilot's management of wind compensation and the delayed deployment of the landing gear contributed to the gear collapse and subsequent excursion.