Accident Overview
On June 27, 2024, at 1028 central daylight time, a Cessna 414, registration N414BS, was destroyed in an accident near McKinney, Texas. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries, while a second passenger was seriously injured.
Flight Details
The flight was intended as an avionics check flight, with the pilot-owner and two passengers who were employees of the avionics facility that had installed the equipment to be tested. The planned duration was 30 to 45 minutes, routing northeast of the airport before returning for instrument approaches. No record indicated that fuel was obtained at the departure airport prior to departure.
The airplane took off from runway 18, which is 7,002 feet long by 150 feet wide with a dry concrete surface. The airport elevation is approximately 589 feet. Shortly after liftoff, the crew reported losing the left engine. Air traffic control instructed the airplane to turn right, but there was no immediate response. When asked for intentions, the crew responded that they were turning left. Controllers cleared the airplane to land in any direction needed.
Witness Account
A witness in an office near taxiway B4 heard the takeoff. He described the engine sound changing from loud to bogged quickly, consistent with an engine failure. He observed the airplane in a left yaw with landing gear extended, appearing to lose left engine power before passing taxiway B4. At that point, the airplane was about 50 to 75 feet above runway 18 and approximately 2,600 to 2,700 feet from the departure end. The airplane was slow and began a left turn, becoming very slow near the departure end. It then rolled left, inverted, and descended from about 100 feet above ground level.
Wreckage Examination
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data showed that after climbing to 600 feet, the airplane's speed was 99 knots, then decreased to between 93 and 65 knots, with a minimum of 65 knots before a slight increase to 70 knots (the last recorded data point). The wreckage was located about 0.7 miles southeast of the departure end of runway 18, impacting a gravel mound with a tail-to-nose heading of northeasterly. The landing gear was extended. Both propellers had separated from their respective engines; neither was in a feathered position. Flight control continuity from control surfaces to cockpit controls was confirmed. The wreckage was retained for further examination.