What happened
While performing a flight from Auburn toward Novato, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. In an effort to perform an emergency landing following the engine failure, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft type into a wooded region located approximately 31 miles northeast of Novato-Gnoss Field, near Vacaville. During this descent, the plane collided with treetops before coming to rest on the ground.
This accident resulted in five fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary reason for the incident was a double engine failure occurring during flight. This loss of power was attributed to insufficient preflight preparations by the pilot. Additional contributing elements noted in the investigation include:
- Improper management of fuel supplies
- The occurrence of fuel exhaustion
- The decision to attempt an emergency landing on terrain outside of a designated airport