What happened
While flying approximately 35 miles north of the departure airport, the pilot contacted air traffic control to request a return to the airfield. At the time of this request, no emergency had been declared, and no engine malfunctions were reported to controllers. Upon arriving at the uncontrolled airport, the pilot indicated intentions to follow a Cessna 152 into the traffic pattern for landing.
During the short final phase of the approach, the aircraft was observed performing S-turns to manage separation from the preceding Cessna 152. During this sequence, the pilot notified the tower of an engine shutdown and an immediate need to land. As the lead aircraft completed its landing flare and occupied the runway, the pilot of the subject aircraft attempted a go-around maneuver. This attempt was performed with the landing gear extended, full flaps deployed, and the left engine shut down at a low airspeed. Upon applying power to the right engine, the aircraft rolled to the left and the nose pitched down, resulting in a crash.
Findings
Investigation into the mechanical failure revealed that the number two cylinder of the left engine had experienced a separation of the cylinder head from the barrel. Additionally, records indicated that the pilot did not have a current biennial flight review documented in the aircraft logbook. The accident resulted in one fatality, as the pilot was the only occupant on board.