What happened
During the initial climb phase, at an altitude of less than 200 feet, the pilot notified air traffic control of an engine malfunction and requested permission to return to the departure airport. While monitoring the flight, the controller observed the aircraft performing a right-hand turn and losing altitude. Just before the aircraft struck the tops of trees, the controller noted that the wings had leveled.
The aircraft subsequently struck the ground approximately 2,000 feet east of the approach end of runway 20L. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that destroyed a large portion of the airframe.
Findings
Investigations into the engines revealed that both units were operating in a low power range at the moment of impact, with internal components showing evidence of being under power. The propellers were not in the feathered position during the accident. While both propellers retained significant rotational energy, the left propeller exhibited more extensive damage and was producing more power than the right propeller.