FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, USA
N69312
Cessna 402B
The pilot was on approach for landing when the right main landing gear did not indicate that it was down. The pilot made a go-around and remained in left closed traffic performing emergency gear extension procedures with negative results. The pilot departed closed traffic and proceeded off shore to burn off fuel before attempting an emergency landing. A company airplane was dispatched to verify the landing gear position. The pilot started a straight in approach for landing five miles from the airport. The right engine started surging and quit. The left engine started surging one mile from the runway. He switched fuel tanks. The engine started and quit. He made a forced landing straight ahead and collided with runway approach lights about 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. The pilot stated he ran out of fuel.
On November 2, 1997, about 1745 eastern standard time, a Cessna 402B, N69312, registered to Donovan Aircraft Inc., leased to Air Flight, operating as a 14 CFR Part 135 passenger flight, crashed on a visual approach to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport pilot and six passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Andros Town, Bahamas, about 1 hour 50 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he departed Fort Lauderdale with about 3 hours 30 minutes of fuel and made two intermediate stops before returning to Fort Lauderdale. No fuel was purchased. While making a visual approach to runway 27 left at Fort Lauderdale, he noticed the right main landing gear did not indicate that it was down. He notified tower, initiated a go-around, remained in left closed traffic, and performed the emergency procedures with negative results. Tower was informed that he was departing closed traffic and that he would circle offshore to burn fuel and contact his company operations. Another company airplane was dispatched to his location and verified the landing gear problem. The pilot started an approach to runway 27 left. The right engine started to surge about 5 miles from the runway. He switched the fuel tanks to crossfeed, and the engine quit. The left engine started surging about 1 mile from the end of the runway. He switched the fuel tanks to the left auxiliary fuel tank. The engine started to run and quit. The pilot made a forced landing straight ahead and collided with approach lights about 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. The pilot stated to the FAA, "I ran out of fuel."
The pilot's improper management of fuel resulting in a total loss of engine power on both engines due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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