Events
A pilot was conducting a cross-country flight. About 8 miles north of the intended destination, he reduced engine power, pitched for level flight, and waited for the indicated airspeed to drop below 174 knots to add 20° of flaps. As soon as the flaps were extended, the airplane began to "buck back and forward," and both engines "throttling up and down on their own." The pilot noted that the right engine seemed to be "sputtering and popping" more than the left, so he raised the flaps and shut down and feathered the right engine. He declared an emergency to air traffic control. Subsequently, the left engine began "slowly spooling down," and the airplane could not maintain airspeed and altitude. The pilot performed a forced landing to a flat, muddy wheat field about 4 nautical miles from the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. Flight control and engine control continuity were confirmed. The master switch was turned on, and the fuel gauges showed a zero indication. There was no evidence of fuel at the accident site or in the airplane. During recovery, no fuel was found in the three intact fuel tanks or in any of the engine fuel lines. The pilot later stated that he ran the airplane out of fuel during the accident flight. The pilot reported that during preflight checks and twice during the accident flight, he activated the low fuel warning light, and no anomalies were noted. Postaccident testing of the low fuel warning light in an exemplar Piper Aerostar 602P revealed no anomalies.
Probable Cause
The pilot’s improper fuel planning and management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.