What happened
While conducting an international cross-country flight, a private pilot operating a single engine land aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. The incident occurred while the pilot was being vectored toward the Brownsville Airport. Prior to the loss of power, the pilot had communicated to air traffic control that the right fuel tank was showing low fuel levels and requested assistance with vectors to the airport.
Unable to reach the runway, the pilot performed an emergency landing in rough and uneven terrain approximately 0.5 miles short of the landing strip. The impact with the ground caused significant damage to the wings and the overall structure of the aircraft.
Findings
An investigation conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a critical configuration error regarding the aircraft's fuel system. Although the left fuel tank contained usable fuel, the fuel selector was set to the right tank position. This configuration, combined with the low fuel levels previously reported in the right tank, led to the total loss of engine power.