Accident Details
A witness reported that the airplane did not climb above 200 feet during its flight. The witness described seeing the airplane 'wobbling up and down' as it attempted to climb, after which it entered a sharp left bank and nosedived. The airplane burned upon impact. The wreckage came to rest in a wooded area approximately 3/4 mile from the approach end of runway 30. Numerous open farm fields were located near the airplane's flight path.
Wreckage and Environmental Factors
The wreckage path was oriented on a heading of 040 degrees and covered about 190 feet from the initial tree impact to the location of the main wreckage. Winds at the time were reported from 240 degrees at 22 knots, gusting to 29 knots.
Engine Inspection
An inspection of the engines revealed no anomalies to either engine.
Maintenance and Fuel Contamination
The flight was the first maintenance check flight after the airplane had not been flown for 14 months. During maintenance, the pilot had placed approximately 100 gallons of water into the left main and left auxiliary fuel tanks in order to locate a fuel leak. A plug was installed in the left auxiliary fuel drain valve, and as a result, the fuel tank could not be checked for contamination during preflight without removing the plug.