What happened
During the early morning hours, the pilot contacted Air Traffic Control to request a diversion from the intended destination to a nearer airport. After receiving clearance for a visual approach, the pilot issued a Mayday call at 0-325. During the final approach phase, the aircraft type struck a building and power lines approximately half a mile before reaching the runway. Observers near the site noted the aircraft was flying at a low altitude and reported hearing a fluttering sound from the engines, though no in-flight fire was observed. There were 0 fatalities reported in the immediate impact description, though the aircraft was destroyed.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed several critical operational discrepancies. The aircraft departed with 384 gallons of usable fuel, which was insufficient to complete the planned flight duration. While the pilot had filed for a 5-hour en route time, the fuel on board was only capable of supporting approximately 3.2 hours of flight at the maximum allowable weight.
Furthermore, the aircraft was operating significantly over its limits. Weight and balance records indicated the plane was approximately 722 pounds above the maximum gross weight for takeoff, climb, and cruise settings. This overweight condition likely increased fuel consumption beyond standard estimates, as the engines required more power to maintain performance. While the engines and propellers showed no mechanical discrepancies or evidence of leakage, the propellers were not in the feathered or reverse positions at the time of impact. The engines were found to be windmilling upon impact.