What happened
During the takeoff roll on an 8,000-foot runway, witnesses observed the aircraft type at an altitude of approximately 100 to 150 feet with its landing gear retracted. At the 3,000-foot mark, a loud noise was heard, after which the aircraft made no attempt to land on the remaining runway surface. The plane continued to climb briefly before passing the runway threshold. Following this, the aircraft entered a steep right descending turn with a bank angle between 60 and 80 degrees and a low nose attitude. The aircraft eventually struck the ground in a residential area, roughly 0.8 miles from the end of runway 34.
Findings
Investigations into the right engine revealed significant internal damage, including galling on all connecting rods and the presence of dirt and contaminants on the bearings. Spalling was also noted on the cam followers, and the oil filter contained various metallic particles. Specifically, the connecting rod yoke for the number 3 cylinder was found broken and separated. While the left engine showed no mechanical malfunction, the right engine suffered from severe internal wear. Maintenance records indicated that both engines had been overhauled in 1986, with the last recorded inspection occurring 754.3 hours after the major overhaul. A critical factor in the accident was that the right propeller blades remained in the low pitch position, indicating that the pilot failed to feather the propeller as required by emergency procedures following the loss of engine power.