What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot discovered that he was low on fuel after departing dsm (desmoines, Iowa) enroute to stp (saint paul, Minnesota). Weather in dsm was below approach minimums, so he did not return to dsm. Pilot notified ATC of his fuel state, was cleared for VOR instrument approach to albert lea, Minnesota (ael). Ael weather was reported 300 overcast 1 mile visibility, approach minimums are 500 ceiling/1 mile visibility. Missed approach to ael, received vectors for ILS approach to mankato, Minnesota (mkt). Both engines failed while on approach to mkt. Landed in muddy field approx. 3 miles from runway at mkt. Pilot stated that he ordered fuel at omaha, prior to departing for dsm. FBO at omaha did not fuel the airplane, and personnel at FBO in omaha did not recall receiving a fuel order. Pilot stated that the fuel gauge indicated full prior to departing omaha for dsm. He stated that he checked the fuel tank and cap prior to departing omaha by opening the cap, and putting his finger in, but could not feel any fuel. He stated that he believed this to be normal. He did not request fuel in dsm, nor did he check the fuel prior to departing dsm. The airplane was devoid of fuel at the scene.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AFTER DEPARTING DSM (DESMOINES, IOWA) ENROUTE TO STP (SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA). WEATHER IN DSM WAS BELOW APPROACH MINIMUMS, SO HE DID NOT RETURN TO DSM. PILOT NOTIFIED ATC OF HIS FUEL STATE, WAS CLEARED FOR VOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA (AEL). AEL WEATHER WAS REPORTED 300 OVERCAST 1 MILE VISIBILITY, APPROACH MINIMUMS ARE 500 CEILING/1 MILE VISIBILITY. MISSED APPROACH TO AEL, RECEIVED VECTORS FOR ILS APPROACH TO MANKATO, MINNESOTA (MKT). BOTH ENGINES FAILED WHILE ON APPROACH TO MKT. LANDED IN MUDDY FIELD APPROX. 3 MILES FROM RUNWAY AT MKT. PILOT STATED THAT HE ORDERED FUEL AT OMAHA, PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR DSM. FBO AT OMAHA DID NOT FUEL THE AIRPLANE, AND PERSONNEL AT FBO IN OMAHA DID NOT RECALL RECEIVING A FUEL ORDER. PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FULL PRIOR TO DEPARTING OMAHA FOR DSM. HE STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE FUEL TANK AND CAP PRIOR TO DEPARTING OMAHA BY OPENING THE CAP, AND PUTTING HIS FINGER IN, BUT COULD NOT FEEL ANY FUEL. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THIS TO BE NORMAL. HE DID NOT REQUEST FUEL IN DSM, NOR DID HE CHECK THE FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING DSM. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEVOID OF FUEL AT THE SCENE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.