What happened
Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, a twin engine airplane experienced a loss of power in its right engine while in cruise flight. The pilot, who was operating under a student pilot certificate, determined that flight could not be maintained and initiated a forced landing.
During the approach, the aircraft struck trees, resulting in a departure from controlled flight and subsequent impact with the terrain. A fire ignited following the accident. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft to determine the cause of the engine failure. During the inspection, it was discovered that only unusable fuel remained in the right wing. Additionally, investigators found that the propeller on the right engine had not been feathered.