What happened
Shortly after departing from the airport, a multiengine airplane entered its initial climb phase. While the aircraft initially followed the extended runway centerline, the flight path became unstable approximately one mile into the ascent. Observers noted that the aircraft began performing erratic yawing motions, accompanied by smoke emitting from the engines. The aircraft subsequently rolled to the left and descended rapidly into the ground, resulting in a post-impact fire.
Prior to the accident, the pilot had been conducting independent maintenance on the aircraft to address issues regarding fuel tank bladder installations. Reports indicated that a test flight conducted the previous day had also revealed mechanical difficulties involving one of the engines.
Findings
An examination of the wreckage, which suffered significant thermal damage, revealed that the right engine was producing a much higher level of power than the left engine at the moment of impact. Due to the intensity of the fire, investigators were unable to determine the status of the fuel selector positions, the fuel lines, or the boost pump switches.