Incident Overview
The pilot reported that during the flight to Oxnard, he conducted a long cruise descent with the engines at a very low power output. He was unaware that the aircraft was equipped with generators instead of alternators, and that the engine speed used during the descent was below the threshold needed to keep the battery charged.
Ground Events
After landing, the pilot deplaned his passenger and shut down both engines. When he attempted to restart the engines, he discovered the battery charge was too low to engage the starters. He set the brakes and hand-propped the right engine to start it. Returning to the cockpit, he attempted to use the right engine's generator to assist starting the left engine, but the left engine would not crank over sufficiently to start.
Accident Sequence
The pilot then reduced the right engine throttle to idle, verified the brakes were set, and exited the aircraft to hand-prop the left engine. The left engine started and immediately went to a high power setting. Before the pilot could re-enter the aircraft, it moved from the parking space and began turning in circles. After completing three circles, the left wing struck a fence and a tree.