Incident Overview
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported that the left engine had lost power. He verified that the mixture, propellers, and throttles were full forward and the fuel selector was in the 'on' position, noting that he checked the fuel selectors by feel only. He recycled the left engine feather control and decided to land with the landing gear retracted. After retracting the landing gear, he attempted to feather the left engine again without success. Unable to maintain altitude or airspeed, with altitude estimated between 150–200 feet and airspeed decaying to 78 knots (Vmc was 83 knots), he elected to land on an interstate highway to avoid a Vmc roll.
Landing and Evacuation
The pilot landed in a southerly direction on the northbound lanes of the highway. During the landing, the left wing struck a light pole, followed by contact with seven vehicles. After the airplane came to a stop, the two occupants evacuated. The passenger reported being "in a puddle of fuel." The pilot later stated that as he exited, he reached down and moved the fuel selectors back, saying he missed the 'off' position and mistakenly moved them to crossfeed.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the fuel selectors at the crash site revealed that both engine fuel selectors were in the crossfeed position. The left engine was test run, and no discrepancies were found. Fuel was present in the left engine, and visual examination for contamination and water showed none. Examination of the right engine also revealed no discrepancies.