Pre-Accident Events
The airplane arrived at the departure airport around mid-April 2002 and remained parked until the day of the accident. On that day, the pilot requested a mechanic's assistance due to difficulty starting the engine. Upon arrival, the mechanic drained approximately 2.5 gallons of water from the center sump drain located under the main fuselage, after which the engine started. The airplane was then fueled with 224.5 gallons of aviation gasoline. The mechanic did not sump the fuel tanks after fueling, nor did he observe the pilot perform a visual inspection of the fuel.
Takeoff and Witness Observations
A witness observed the accident airplane during departure. The witness stated that the engines sounded as if they were running adequately but did not appear to be developing full power. As the airplane continued down the runway, it seemed to be traveling very slowly and not gaining sufficient speed for takeoff. The airplane lifted abruptly into the air approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway, and the landing gear was retracted. The airplane then settled toward the ground, clearing the levee at the departure end of the runway by a few feet.
Accident Sequence
After clearing the levee, the airplane began to climb again, reaching an altitude of about 120 feet, and proceeded straight out from the airport. Approximately 30 seconds later, the airplane banked gently to the left, at which point a faint puff of black smoke was observed coming from an engine. As the bank continued, the airplane descended into a near-vertical dive. The witness observed the top portion of the airplane as it descended in a vertical dive before it went out of sight. The airplane came to rest upright in a residential area about 1 mile southwest of I73, and a post-crash fire ensued.
Post-Crash Examination
The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on March 29, 2001. Examination of the left engine propeller assembly, which was embedded in a dirt crater, revealed rearward bending to all three blades; no chordwise scratching was observed. Examination of the right engine propeller assembly, embedded in a cement sidewalk, revealed S-bending and chordwise scratches to all three blades.
Ferry Permit
The pilot had applied for and was granted a ferry permit to operate the airplane on the day of the accident.