Accident Overview
Shortly after becoming airborne for a local sightseeing flight, the left engine of the aircraft lost power. The airplane yawed to the left, and the left propeller was feathered. The flight path angled to the left of the runway and crossed over trees adjacent to the departure end of the runway.
Landing and Damage
Due to a loss of speed, the captain realized the aircraft would not clear a second row of trees. He reduced power on the right engine and executed a wheels-up landing in a corn field. During the landing, the aircraft sustained damage.
Post-Accident Engine Examination
Following the accident, the left engine was checked and found to produce takeoff power. The performance charts indicated that a takeoff distance of 3,551 feet would have been required to clear a 50-foot obstacle. This distance was based on a hard surface; no correction factor was provided for a turf runway. The grass runway was 3,600 feet long. Reportedly, the takeoff was started with 3,500 feet of runway remaining.
Fuel Tank Selection
The pilots were using the rear fuel tanks for takeoff. According to the flight manual, takeoffs and climbs should have been conducted using the left and right front center wing tanks, respectively. The front tanks contained only about 5 gallons of fuel remaining.