What happened
During the early stages of flight departing from Middletown-Summit Airpark, a twin engine aircraft experienced a catastrophic event while performing an initial climb. The aircraft entered a left bank before impacting the ground, which resulted in a massive explosion. The impact and subsequent fire completely destroyed the airframe. There were two fatalities among the occupants of the plane.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage determined that the accident was caused by a structural failure of the wing. Specifically, the lower cap of the left wing failed at a point approximately 8 inches outboard from where the outer panel is attached to the structure. This mechanical failure led to the detachment of the left wing during flight. The fracture that led to this separation was identified as a fatigue fracture.