Cessna 310-H N815M

Summary

On 2 December 2003 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 310-H registered N815M was involved in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 December 2003 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.6019, -97.7061

Aircraft

Cessna 310-H

Registration

N815M

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mount Vernon → Oklahoma City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA031

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel by which he failed to position the fuel selector on the appropriate fuel tanks resulting in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 1,800-hour pilot stated that he turned final to Runway 17 and was at an altitude of 2,500 MSL, when the left engine lost power. Approximately ten seconds later, the right engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane in a field with the landing gear up, approximately two miles north of his destination. The main fuel tanks were visually inspected and found to be one-third to one-half full of fuel. The auxiliary tanks were found to be empty. The fuel selector valves were in the auxiliary position for both engines. The pilot reported that he was distracted by weather and communications with Oklahoma City Approach Control, and forgot to switch tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.