Cessna 310-D | N6979T

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot mis-managed fuel in flight. The pilot was delivering the aircraft to the new owner after a recent sale, and was being followed by another aircraft, a Cessna 205 which was to be the transportation back home. Although the 205 was slower, both aircraft were heard on the Unicom frequency at KAMT, the destination airport, and the accident pilot reported leaving cruise altitude. The 310 had not flown in more than 5 years, had no ADS-b, and needed a lot of maintenance. Technically, the accident plane was being operated on an FAA ferry permit, signed by the new owner who was an A&P mechanic, but not a multiengine pilot. The wreckage was found with evidence of a Vmc rollover/stall/spin type impact. The pilot had recently undergone shoulder surgery, but his medical condition is not suspected as being a contributor to the accident. The fuel selectors were found in the “MAIN” position (tip tanks). The aircraft had departed with an estimated 91 gallons of fuel on board for the 197 nautical mile trip, which would take 1.8 hours and consume 60 gallons of fuel at that altitude and speed. The aircraft was flown gear down at the accident pilots request. When being fueled for the flight, the fueler specifically recalled the order and amount of fuel added to each of the four fuel tanks. The left tip tank (left main) was only half filled due to a known fuel leak in that tank, bringing it up to approximately 25 gallons. The left inboard (aux tank) was filled, a total of 15 gallons. The right inboard was empty and no fuel was added. The right main tank (right tip) was filled to capacity of 51 gallons. It is suspected that the accident aircraft first lost left engine power due to inadequate fuel supply, a condition caused by switching tanks in flight and possibly attempting to cross-feed fuel from right wing to left engine. It is likely that the known ground based fuel leaks became more pronounced during the flight, as significant fresh blue fuel staining was found associated with the left wing. The aircraft was fully aerodynamically stalled while maneuvering near the the final approach course for the RNAV 23 approach at KAMT, a result of the accident pilot being distracted by frantic attempts to make both engines run. A ground witness reported hearing the engines cutting out, and eventually both going silent before impact. The aircraft wreckage was located just northwest of FENLA intersection, and just short of the final approach course. It is probable that the pilot departed with a known abnormal, and then mishandled the compounding in flight fuel induced engine failure abnormal, became distracted, and allowed the aircraft to slow well below published Vmc and stall speed, and did allow Vmc roll, or an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for a recovery.

NTSB: NONE

DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all twin Cessna aircraft become educated on the aircraft systems, specifically the designation of MAIN versus AUXILLERY fuel supplies in this series. The DTSB also recommends that all pilots of all aircraft decline such flights in aircraft with known mechanical deficiencies. In this case, the aircraft was technically legal for the flight, and did operate with FAA approval, but the accident pilot lacked the requisite skill, knowledge and type experience to complete the flight successfully.
The DTSB recommends that pilots avoid flight below DMMS speed, and close both throttles, and land gear up in any open area when aircraft control becomes doubtful due to fuel supply problems.

NTSB: NONE