The pilot of the twin-engine Piper PA-44 reported that while on an instrument flight rules cross-country flight at night, he became concerned about the amount of fuel aboard and considered stopping for fuel.
About the time he became aware of the fuel state, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions and his attention was diverted from finding an alternate airport to maintaining his flight path.
When air traffic control cleared the pilot to go direct to the initial approach fix at his destination airport, the airplane experienced an uncommanded right yaw.
The pilot recognized that the right engine experienced a total loss of power and he began to secure that engine.
He declared an emergency and requested radar vectors to the nearest airport.
Then the left engine began to “sputter” and experienced a total loss of power. The pilot told investigators he “was sure that it was fuel exhaustion.”
Unable to glide to an airport, he aimed for the darkest landscape to avoid any ground injuries and the airplane hit terrain near Hawkinsville, Georgia, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Post-accident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector noted no smell of fuel or indications of fuel present at the accident site.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot exhausted the available fuel supply, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
NTSB Identification: 106438
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This December 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
