Narrative:

[I] and a private pilot passenger flew to a nearby airport for lunch in the late morning. On the way there; an IFR flight plan was filed. We left with auxiliary tanks topped off and roughly 20 gal per side in the main tanks (tip tanks in the 310). Upon arrival at destination; we decided that it would be safe to add 5 gal per side into the main (tip) tanks. The flight back was conducted in VFR conditions between 2;500 and 3;000 ft. The flight took roughly 30 minutes; of which 15-20 minutes were fueled from the auxiliary (wing) tanks. After preparing for landing; the tanks were switched back to mains; as required by the checklist. Between 1 and 2 miles from the airport; the left engine experienced momentary roughness; however; as all of the gauges were in the green; I continued the approach. The approach was conducted at a slightly higher than recommended speed and altitude; to compensate for the heavy winds that were reported (information at the time reported around 15g23 out of 070). Once the landing was assured; with the gear and flaps already down; power was reduced. Approximately 1;000 ft from the runway threshold; my passenger and I smelled a heavy aroma of AVGAS in the cockpit. Approximately 150 ft from; and about 20-30 ft above; the threshold; I experienced a failure in the port engine (the critical engine). Having very little time to react; I added some power to the right engine; instantly realizing that at our low; pre-touchdown speed; this would cause the plane to bank and become uncontrollable. Power was taken out; and within 2 seconds I landed the plane on the threshold. Fearing a fuel leak; the port engine had been shut down almost instantly; and the starboard engine was shut down upon reaching the runway. Using inertia; I made a right turn onto the taxiway; stopping the aircraft over the hold short line. With ground's permission; we disembarked and pushed the plane completely over the hold short line. I was; within no more than two seconds before touching down; able to make a non-distress call to the tower stating 'engine failure.' no damage was observed to the plane except an inch-long scratch and a slight bend on the right gear strut's aluminum cover. The airframe; skin; tires; struts; power plants and surfaces had no damage. In the process of touching down short of the runway; the aircraft hit one runway threshold light; as I was told by airport operations.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C310 pilot experiences engine failure on very short final and touches down short of the runway. A runway threshold light is damaged along with the right strut door.

Narrative: [I] and a private pilot passenger flew to a nearby airport for lunch in the late morning. On the way there; an IFR flight plan was filed. We left with auxiliary tanks topped off and roughly 20 GAL per side in the main tanks (tip tanks in the 310). Upon arrival at destination; we decided that it would be safe to add 5 GAL per side into the main (tip) tanks. The flight back was conducted in VFR conditions between 2;500 and 3;000 FT. The flight took roughly 30 minutes; of which 15-20 minutes were fueled from the auxiliary (wing) tanks. After preparing for landing; the tanks were switched back to mains; as required by the checklist. Between 1 and 2 miles from the airport; the left engine experienced momentary roughness; however; as all of the gauges were in the green; I continued the approach. The approach was conducted at a slightly higher than recommended speed and altitude; to compensate for the heavy winds that were reported (information at the time reported around 15G23 out of 070). Once the landing was assured; with the gear and flaps already down; power was reduced. Approximately 1;000 FT from the Runway threshold; my passenger and I smelled a heavy aroma of AVGAS in the cockpit. Approximately 150 FT from; and about 20-30 FT above; the threshold; I experienced a failure in the port engine (the critical engine). Having very little time to react; I added some power to the right engine; instantly realizing that at our low; pre-touchdown speed; this would cause the plane to bank and become uncontrollable. Power was taken out; and within 2 seconds I landed the plane on the threshold. Fearing a fuel leak; the port engine had been shut down almost instantly; and the starboard engine was shut down upon reaching the runway. Using inertia; I made a right turn onto the taxiway; stopping the aircraft over the hold short line. With Ground's permission; we disembarked and pushed the plane completely over the hold short line. I was; within no more than two seconds before touching down; able to make a non-distress call to the Tower stating 'engine failure.' No damage was observed to the plane except an inch-long scratch and a slight bend on the right gear strut's aluminum cover. The airframe; skin; tires; struts; power plants and surfaces had no damage. In the process of touching down short of the runway; the aircraft hit one runway threshold light; as I was told by Airport Operations.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.