Narrative:

Conducted a normal preflight a cessna 421C; fuel tanks had been topped-off the night before and both engines had 13 quarts on the dipstick. I got a clearance for an IFR flight and was 'cleared as filed'. Departed at midday on runway 31 with all engine indications mostly normal - noted the right-hand engine only reaching 37' mp (39' max). Climb-out was normal and the autopilot and yaw damper was engaged. ATC gave me vectors to course with steady step-climbing to 14;000 ft. I was attentive to cylinder head temperatures on climb-out and kept the climb speed up to enhance cooling at climb power. We entered IMC at 9;000 with outside temp at 2 degrees celsius and decreasing; so I turned on pitot heat; stall warning heat; window heat; and checked amps to verify loads. At about 12;000 ft the right-hand engine made a slight bump in the RPM and mp. The fuel pumps were re-verified in the low position. Leveled off at 14;000 ft and began trimming and adjusting power gradually for cruise. About two and a half hours after takeoff the airplane started shaking and jerking just before the nose yawed to the right and then down (autopilot in heading and altitude). Initial indications at this point were a problem with the right-hand engine; so it was feathered; and I declared an emergency. Airspeed was decaying so I established the best glide speed while trying to secure the airplane and troubleshoot the problem. I declared an emergency and asked center for vectors to nearest airport and was given a heading. I told them that was too far away and asked for a nearer airport so they sent me to a military approach control. The TRACON was slow to recognize my urgency and I had to directly ask for help several times before getting a heading to a nearby airport. Descending through 11;000 ft I realized that the left-hand engine was not running. The RPM had reduced from 1;900 to less than a 1;000 RPM. I tried two re-starts but was not successful. It was VMC at 9;000 ft so I turned off all electrical switches except for the avionics master. The airport became visual at about 6 miles when I was at 6;000 ft so I knew that I would make this airport. I landed uneventfully; cleared the runway and had the airplane towed to the FBO. Later I called the TRACON and canceled my IFR flight plan. Airplane was not damaged in the descent and landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C421 pilot at 14;000 FT IMC with unforecast icing thought the right engine was malfunctioning and so shut it down only to realize the left engine quit. He later found out the left engine oil pressure dropped causing it to fail and he mistakenly shut his good engine down.

Narrative: Conducted a normal preflight a Cessna 421C; fuel tanks had been topped-off the night before and both engines had 13 quarts on the dipstick. I got a clearance for an IFR flight and was 'cleared as filed'. Departed at midday on Runway 31 with all engine indications mostly normal - noted the right-hand engine only reaching 37' MP (39' max). Climb-out was normal and the autopilot and yaw damper was engaged. ATC gave me vectors to course with steady step-climbing to 14;000 FT. I was attentive to cylinder head temperatures on climb-out and kept the climb speed up to enhance cooling at climb power. We entered IMC at 9;000 with outside temp at 2 degrees Celsius and decreasing; so I turned on pitot heat; stall warning heat; window heat; and checked amps to verify loads. At about 12;000 FT the right-hand engine made a slight bump in the RPM and MP. The fuel pumps were re-verified in the low position. Leveled off at 14;000 FT and began trimming and adjusting power gradually for cruise. About two and a half hours after takeoff the airplane started shaking and jerking just before the nose yawed to the right and then down (autopilot in HDG and ALT). Initial indications at this point were a problem with the right-hand engine; so it was feathered; and I declared an emergency. Airspeed was decaying so I established the best glide speed while trying to secure the airplane and troubleshoot the problem. I declared an emergency and asked Center for vectors to nearest airport and was given a heading. I told them that was too far away and asked for a nearer airport so they sent me to a military Approach Control. The TRACON was slow to recognize my urgency and I had to directly ask for help several times before getting a heading to a nearby airport. Descending through 11;000 FT I realized that the left-hand engine was not running. The RPM had reduced from 1;900 to less than a 1;000 RPM. I tried two re-starts but was not successful. It was VMC at 9;000 FT so I turned off all electrical switches except for the avionics master. The airport became visual at about 6 miles when I was at 6;000 FT so I knew that I would make this airport. I landed uneventfully; cleared the runway and had the airplane towed to the FBO. Later I called the TRACON and canceled my IFR flight plan. Airplane was not damaged in the descent and landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.