NTSB Factual Report

On December 17, 2001, at 0815 central standard time, a Piper PA-34, N4354A, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field, 500 feet short of runway 22 at the Clinton Memorial Airport (GLY), Clinton, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight departed Springfield Downtown Airport (3DW), Springfield, Missouri, at 0715 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan en route to Kansas City Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City, Missouri. While in cruise flight at 8,000 feet msl and approximately 30 miles west GLY, the airplane lost power on one engine. An emergency was declared and the airplane was given radar vectors to GLY. The pilot made a visual approach to the airport, but on final approach, the airplane lost power to the remaining engine and landed short of the runway. The commercial pilot was not injured and the two passengers received minor injuries. At 0737, Whiteman AFB, located 24 nautical miles to the north of GLY, was reporting instrument meteorological conditions. The flight was on an IFR flight plan.

The pilot reported that during preflight he did not visually verify the fuel load by removing the fuel caps and looking into the fuel tanks, since there was "...standing water in the fuel caps and a moderate rainfall at near freezing temps [temperatures] and I did not want to contaminate my fuel." He reported that during taxi for takeoff the fuel gages read 1/2 full. He reported he expected to be able to return "with just over an hour of fuel on board and leaving on a 45 minute flight."

He reported that, "20 minutes into the flight my fuel gages began falling to empty... ." He reported, "...30 miles west of GLY the right engine quit [.] I secured the engine and declared the emergency." The pilot requested radar vectors for GLY. The pilot reported he found a hole in the clouds and descended through it. He reported he was, "...getting established on a short final [when] the left engine quit with the aircraft settling short of the runway."

The inspection of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in the tanks or fuel lines, and neither propeller was found in the feathered position.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadequate prefight, his failure to feather the propellers, and the fuel exhaustion.