Accident
During the takeoff roll at La Verne-Brackett Field Airport, the pilot-in-command noticed a problem and decided to abandon the takeoff. He initiated an emergency braking procedure but was unable to stop within the remaining distance. The twin-engine airplane overran the runway, lost its undercarriage, and came to rest. Two passengers were killed, while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be inadequate preflight preparation on the part of the flying crew. The following factors were reported: aborted takeoff, gear collapsed, delayed action in aborting takeoff, gust locks engaged, failed to use the pre-takeoff checklist, overload failure, airport conditions, bolt secured control column, and passenger seats improperly installed.