LAX02LA177

The airplane collided with terrain short of the airport following a dual engine loss of power. The pilot reported verbally to the Safety Board that while on final approach to the uncontrolled airport the left engine quit. He secured the engine, then the right engine quit. At that point, the pilot realized that he was landing on the auxiliary fuel tanks, which were nearly empty, and the airplane was too low to attempt an engine restart. He stated that there were no malfunctions with the airplane or the engines, and that he had failed to change the fuel selectors to the main fuel tanks.

On May 25, 2002, about 1755 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 310N, N588JL, experienced a total loss of engine power and made a forced landing off the airport at Dayton, Nevada. The flight was operated by the private pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight originated at Watsonville, California, about 1700.

The pilot reported verbally to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) that while on final approach to the uncontrolled airport the left engine quit. He secured the engine, then the right engine quit. The pilot realized at that point he was landing on the auxiliary fuel tanks, which were nearly empty, and the airplane was too low to attempt an engine restart. He stated that there were no malfunctions with the airplane or the engines, and that he had failed to change the fuel selectors to the main fuel tanks.

The pilot did not file nor return a Safety Board form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form. The IIC interviewed the pilot by telephone shortly after the accident. The pilot stated that he was not the owner of the airplane, and that he had just finished an annual inspection and decided to fly it.