What happened
A private pilot and one passenger departed on a local flight in a twin-engine airplane. During the flight, witnesses observed that the left engine was not producing full power. The aircraft was subsequently reported overdue.
The following day, the wreckage was located approximately 22 miles from the departure airport. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the aircraft was in an unairworthy condition. Specifically, the left engine primer was not locked, and the aircraft had been fueled with automotive gasoline.
Evidence indicated that the pilot intentionally secured the engines and feathered the propellers prior to impact. The airplane struck the ground in a nose-down, near wings-level attitude, characterized by a high vertical descent rate and very little forward speed.
Findings
Several contributing factors were identified during the investigation:
- The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate or a multiengine rating.
- Toxicological testing confirmed that alcohol was present in the blood of both the pilot and the passenger.
- The pilot's recent flight experience could not be determined.