Narrative:

I departed approximately XA30 for ZZZ1. The aircraft was topped off with 183 gals. I used only the tip tanks on my trip to ZZZ and topped off there with 75 gals. At my power setting of '23 in' map and 2300 RPM; this aircraft burns 30 gph; 15 gph per side if leaned to peak plus 50 degrees. I had used this fuel flow on the right engine but had found the left engine ran smoother at 95 pounds per hour or 15.8 gph. At any rate the 75 gal required for top off was close enough to normal that no red flags were raised in my mind. My trip to ZZZ2 required 3.7 hours. During this leg; I xferred all fuel (20 gals) from the wing locker and balanced the fuel between the 2 tip tanks. I also ran the auxiliary tanks dry. With 183 gals; at 30.8 gph; I had enough fuel to fly 5.8 hours minimum. My trip from ZZZ2 back to ZZZ was 1.3 hours. This should have left me with at least 48 mins of fuel. As we now know; the fuel was exhausted 1 min from touchdown at ZZZ after a total combined flight time of 5.0 hours. The reason for this is not clear at this time. A contributing factor was the fact that the low fuel lights did not illuminate at any time during the flight. They should illuminate when 10 gals of fuel remain in the tip tank; warning that approximately 45 mins of fuel remains. These lights were checked twice during the flight and did illuminate when pressed. The WX at ZZZ was 400 ft and 2 mi. I lost power in both engines virtually simultaneously at 500 ft while on the ILS.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CESSNA 310K EXPERIENCES FUEL EXHAUSTION ON APCH TO ZZZ.

Narrative: I DEPARTED APPROX XA30 FOR ZZZ1. THE ACFT WAS TOPPED OFF WITH 183 GALS. I USED ONLY THE TIP TANKS ON MY TRIP TO ZZZ AND TOPPED OFF THERE WITH 75 GALS. AT MY PWR SETTING OF '23 IN' MAP AND 2300 RPM; THIS ACFT BURNS 30 GPH; 15 GPH PER SIDE IF LEANED TO PEAK PLUS 50 DEGS. I HAD USED THIS FUEL FLOW ON THE R ENG BUT HAD FOUND THE L ENG RAN SMOOTHER AT 95 LBS PER HR OR 15.8 GPH. AT ANY RATE THE 75 GAL REQUIRED FOR TOP OFF WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO NORMAL THAT NO RED FLAGS WERE RAISED IN MY MIND. MY TRIP TO ZZZ2 REQUIRED 3.7 HRS. DURING THIS LEG; I XFERRED ALL FUEL (20 GALS) FROM THE WING LOCKER AND BALANCED THE FUEL BTWN THE 2 TIP TANKS. I ALSO RAN THE AUX TANKS DRY. WITH 183 GALS; AT 30.8 GPH; I HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO FLY 5.8 HRS MINIMUM. MY TRIP FROM ZZZ2 BACK TO ZZZ WAS 1.3 HRS. THIS SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME WITH AT LEAST 48 MINS OF FUEL. AS WE NOW KNOW; THE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED 1 MIN FROM TOUCHDOWN AT ZZZ AFTER A TOTAL COMBINED FLT TIME OF 5.0 HRS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS NOT CLR AT THIS TIME. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FACT THAT THE LOW FUEL LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE AT ANY TIME DURING THE FLT. THEY SHOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN 10 GALS OF FUEL REMAIN IN THE TIP TANK; WARNING THAT APPROX 45 MINS OF FUEL REMAINS. THESE LIGHTS WERE CHKED TWICE DURING THE FLT AND DID ILLUMINATE WHEN PRESSED. THE WX AT ZZZ WAS 400 FT AND 2 MI. I LOST PWR IN BOTH ENGS VIRTUALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY AT 500 FT WHILE ON THE ILS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.