What happened
During an initial climb phase, the aircraft experienced a partial loss of power in the left engine. At the time of departure, weather conditions were clear but temperatures were below freezing, and heavy frost had accumulated on the aircraft surfaces. Following the engine malfunction, the pilot attempted a course reversal toward a landing area. During this maneuver, the pilot failed to feather the propeller and instead lowered the landing gear. This sequence of actions led to an aerodynamic stall and an inverted roll, causing the aircraft to crash into a residential neighborhood.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted several critical procedural failures and environmental factors. The crew did not perform a preflight inspection, engine run-up, or warm-up procedure prior to takeoff. Furthermore, no steps were taken to remove the frost from the aircraft surfaces before departure. While the loss of power in the left engine was initially suspected to be related to cold engine operation, a subsequent teardown of the engine revealed no mechanical defects. The investigation also noted that the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the emergency maneuver—specifically the improper gear extension and failure to feather the propeller—contributed to the loss of control. All three fatalities occurred as a result of the impact. No physiological impairments were found in the crew following toxicological testing.