Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to properly adjust the fuel/air mixtures, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing to a field.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot departed in the multiengine airplane and climbed to cruise altitude. He began to lean the fuel mixture for cruise power and felt a vibration and fluttering. He then slowed the airplane, began to troubleshoot the problem and turned back toward the airport; but when he advanced the throttles to takeoff power, there was no response from engines. The pilot stated that the airplane was “losing altitude fast,” and he attempted to glide the airplane to the interstate for an emergency landing. Unable to reach the interstate, the pilot subsequently performed a gear-up, forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was distracted by the vibration and noise and he failed to enrichen the fuel mixtures after beginning the leaning procedure. He stated that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded the engines from producing full power, and that the vibration was the result of the engines running rough due to lack of fuel.