Accident Overview
An aircraft collided with a utility pole and a large tree during a forced landing following a loss of power after takeoff. Witnesses reported hearing the aircraft backfiring and observed an excessively long ground run. Immediately after takeoff, the aircraft went through the tops of pine trees. The backfiring and smoke ceased after the collision with the pine trees, and the aircraft began a descent toward a street, maneuvering as if to avoid a collision with cars.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, the spark plugs from the right engine were tested. All but the #5 front plug would not spark during the initial test. However, in a subsequent test, the spark plugs (with the exception of #5) did test properly. A complete teardown of the engine did not reveal evidence of mechanical failure or pre-impact engine discrepancy.
Official Findings
According to the official probable cause statement, the accident involved two occurrences. The first was an in-flight collision with an object (tree) during the takeoff initial climb phase, with the reason for occurrence undetermined. The second was a forced landing during the landing flare/touchdown phase, where the aircraft collided with a utility pole and encountered high obstructions in the terrain.