Accident Overview
The airplane sustained substantial damage upon impact with terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during the initial climbout. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.
Witness Accounts
A witness reported: "Took of[f] to south. Normal acceleration. ... In left turn sounded like engine lost power. (no backfire)" Another witness stated: "Looked north when t[he] plane engine cut out. Plane low, heading south east, turning easterly w[ith] slight climb or level flying."
Pre-Accident Fueling
The day prior to the accident, the airplane was fueled with 58.3 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline. The local wind at the time was reported as 190 degrees at 07 knots.
Propeller and Flight Controls
The propeller remained attached to the engine. Both propeller blades exhibited aft bending. Flight control continuity was established, and control continuity was also confirmed to the engine.
Fuel System Examination
The fuel selector was found damaged and indicated a position between the left and right tanks. Fuel was present in the right tip tank, the fuel selector valve, the fuel line to the engine-driven fuel pump, the engine-driven fuel pump itself, and the carburetor's accelerator pump cylinder. When electrical power was applied, the electric fuel pump was observed pumping a liquid. The engine-driven fuel pump was disassembled and no anomalies were noted. The fuel selector valve was disassembled, revealing its internal valve components positioned between tanks.
Engine Test Run
The engine was test run up to full power using the original carburetor and magnetos. No anomalies were noted during the test run.
Surrounding Terrain
Observations of the surrounding farmland revealed suitable landing areas that could have been used for a forced landing.