What happened
During a cross-country flight, an experienced pilot was transporting two passengers when the aircraft began experiencing engine issues approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes into the journey. The pilot reported that the engines were not operating correctly, describing the right engine as having fluctuating power and the left engine as sputtering. After declaring an emergency, the pilot communicated with air traffic control, during which time he expressed uncertainty regarding whether to divert to a nearby airport or proceed to the original destination. The pilot eventually indicated that the aircraft would not reach its intended destination.
As the aircraft descended, the pilot performed a forced landing in a wooded area. The impact resulted in a significant post-impact fire that destroyed the cockpit, fuselage, empennage, and the right wing. The left wing separated at the wing root during the sequence but did not sustain fire damage. The accident resulted in two fatalities and one survivor.
Findings
An investigation into the aircraft's fuel configuration revealed that the left fuel selector was set to the left main tank, while the right fuel selector was positioned between the left and right main tanks. This specific setting allowed the right engine to draw fuel from both tanks. Although the aircraft's emergency procedures for engine failure instructed the pilot to attempt an engine restart by ensuring both selectors were set to the main tanks, the propellers were not found in the feathered position.
While the pilot had fueled the aircraft with 206 gallons of usable fuel prior to departure, no fuel was located in the left wing tank following the crash. Despite the engine malfunctions, a mechanical examination of the aircraft type and its engines revealed no mechanical deficiencies that would account for the failure.