Accident Overview
The aircraft had recently undergone routine maintenance and was scheduled for its first flight following the inspection. During the initial climb, the pilot observed the airplane drifting to the left. Despite applying right aileron and right rudder, the airplane continued yawing left. The pilot reported that, with both hands on the control yoke, he could not maintain directional control. The airplane subsequently collided with a building and came to rest on railroad tracks adjacent to the airport perimeter.
Examination Findings
A post-accident examination revealed that the elevator trim wheel was set to 9 degrees NOSE UP, whereas the normal takeoff range is between 2 and 3 degrees NOSE UP. The rudder trim control knob was found in the full left position. The right propeller lever was located about one-half inch forward of the FEATHER position. These control inputs would have caused the airplane to yaw to the left. Examination of the airframe, engines, and propellers found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Actions
The pilot did not adequately follow the airplane manufacturer's checklist during preflight, taxi, and before takeoff. This resulted in the airplane not being configured correctly for takeoff, leading to loss of directional control immediately after rotation.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident, as determined by the official investigation, was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to follow the airplane manufacturer's checklist to ensure that the rudder trim control and right propeller control lever were positioned correctly.