What happened
During the early stages of flight following departure from Marathon Airport, an aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. The event occurred while the plane was in its initial climb phase. Due to the loss of propulsion, the aircraft entered a stall and descended into the ocean, striking the water just a short distance from the shoreline.
While the aircraft was destroyed in the accident, the pilot survived the impact without any injuries. Emergency responders were able to locate and rescue the pilot shortly after the crash occurred.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the dual engine failure was the result of improper fuel management during the preflight stage. Specifically, the investigation concluded that the pilot had failed to properly prepare the aircraft, leaving the fuel selector valve positioned between the two fuel tanks, which prevented a consistent fuel supply to the engines.