Accident Overview
During a nighttime operation, an aircraft collided with trees while attempting a go-around. The pilot, who had recently acquired the aircraft, was accompanied by his wife at the time of the accident. The pilot lacked the necessary certification for the aircraft.
Witness and Pilot Accounts
Witnesses reported hearing the engines stop and start at least once during the go-around, followed by the sound of a crash. The pilot stated that everything appeared normal during the go-around until reaching 300 ft above ground level (AGL), when the aircraft began to vibrate. Shortly thereafter, it collided with trees in a steep bank, nose-low attitude, and cartwheeled.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident investigation revealed a discrepancy in the calculated fuel quantity. A salesman had calculated that the aircraft should have contained 12 gallons of fuel after the accident, but the actual fuel found totaled approximately 54 gallons. Of this, about 40 gallons were in the left main tank and 14 in the right auxiliary tank. The rear engine was using the right auxiliary tank, while the front engine was on the left main tank. However, no fuel was found in the front engine fuel strainer after the accident.
Conclusion
The circumstances surrounding the fuel distribution and the lack of fuel in the front engine strainer, combined with the engine stoppages reported by witnesses and the vibration experienced by the pilot, were documented but no probable cause was stated in the source.