What happened
The day before the accident, the aircraft experienced a total electrical failure during a cross-country flight. The pilot performed a precautionary landing at an airport to recharge the battery; however, the underlying electrical issue was not repaired before the flight on the day of the accident.
Following takeoff from the runway, the pilot retracted the landing gear and initiated a left turn. While the aircraft was approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level, the left engine lost power. Shortly thereafter, the right engine also lost power. The pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing in a field containing brush and mesquite trees.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed that several maintenance defects had not been addressed. Six days prior to the accident, an FAA inspector had inspected the airplane and issued an Aircraft Condition Notice regarding these defects, which were classified as an imminent hazard to safety. Operating the aircraft without corrective action required a special flight permit, which had not been obtained for this flight.
Investigators were unable to determine the specific reason for the loss of power in both engines.