What happened
The flight departed Denver with a planned route to Burbank. En route, the crew encountered headwinds stronger than forecast, reducing their average ground speed to 148 miles per hour compared to the 170 mph estimated in the flight plan. Near Las Vegas, the pilot noted remaining fuel levels but did not stop for refueling, believing the quantity sufficient to reach the destination. After passing over Palmdale, the left engine experienced a fuel pressure drop and stopped; power was restored by adjusting fuel selector valves. The pilot suspected a leak but found no visible evidence and continued toward Burbank.
Upon arrival in the Burbank area, weather conditions deteriorated with ceilings dropping to 1,000 feet and visibility reduced to one mile due to rain showers. The aircraft was instructed to hold while awaiting approach clearance. During this hold, the left engine stopped again but was restarted via valve adjustments. As the flight descended below 1,600 feet, only intermittent power could be obtained from the left engine. While completing a turn to return to the radio range station, the right engine failed and was feathered. With both engines compromised or inoperative, the pilot identified a hangar at the Lockheed Air Terminal below and executed a sharp turn to land on a north-south taxiway. The aircraft skidded past the runway threshold, crossed the airport's south boundary, and came to rest after traversing an adjacent highway and railroad line.
Findings
The investigation determined that the accident resulted from fuel exhaustion prior to landing. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to accurately calculate fuel consumption based on actual time in the air and company data. The crew also lacked detailed weather data for their intended cruising altitudes before departure. Additionally, the flight encountered unexpected headwinds that significantly reduced ground speed, extending the flight duration beyond the original plan. Finally, the aircraft faced instrument meteorological conditions over Burbank, requiring a hold of approximately ten minutes for approach clearance, during which no emergency was declared despite the critical fuel situation.