Accident Summary
A 3,800-hour commercial pilot departed on a personal cross-country flight in a light piston-powered, twin-engine airplane. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported to the controller that "[he] found a problem and that he wanted to check it out on the ground" and stated he was heading back to the departure airport. The air traffic controller offered a straight-in approach, but the pilot declined, stating he would perform a normal downwind approach to the runway. During the conversation, the pilot did not disclose the nature of the problem. The airplane crashed approximately 4 miles prior to reaching the airport, in a vacant lot.
Flight Path
Radar data revealed that after departure, the airplane flew the runway heading. When approximately 5 miles from the airfield and at about 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the airplane initiated a turn to the right, completed a 180-degree turn, then proceeded in a straight line. During the return flight, radar showed the airplane gradually descending while maintaining a ground speed of 170 knots. The last radar hit recorded the airplane at 2,700 feet msl and a ground speed of 160 knots.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was examined at the accident site on January 11-12, 2007. A post-impact fire consumed part of the airframe cabin. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The airplane impacted the ground in a near nose-down (vertical) attitude. The airframe was extensively crushed in an accordion-style, nose to tail. The wings remained attached and perpendicular to the fuselage; both engines were driven several feet into the ground. Control continuity to all flight controls was established. The landing gear was in the retracted position. The flap drive mechanism corresponded to a flap setting of approximately 30 degrees.
Engine and Propeller Examination
Post-crash examinations of the engines and propellers were conducted. The left engine sustained heavy impact damage to the front, including a crack in the crankcase. Both magnetos separated from the engine during the accident sequence and had heavy impact damage, and would not produce a spark. Sparkplugs from the left engine were worn out normal when compared to the Champion Aviation Check-a-Plug Comparison card; top sparkplugs had light gray deposits and bottom sparkplugs were oily in the electrode areas. No anomalies were noted with the fuel pump or oil pump. The engine was disassembled, and no pre-impact abnormalities with the engine, cylinder assemblies, or engine components were found.
The right engine also sustained heavy impact damage. Both magnetos separated from the engine and produced spark when tested. The sparkplugs had similar appearances to those in the left engine. During disassembly, no pre-impact abnormalities were found.
Both propellers remained attached to their respective engines. The propeller blades were "wrapped" aft to the engines. Examination revealed that neither propeller was feathered at the time of impact. Three of the four propeller blades had extensive nicks and gouges along the leading edge.