Accident Overview
An aircraft departed a coastal airport at night. Weather conditions included 400 feet partial obscuration in patchy fog. Ground witnesses who heard the aircraft described a circling flight path to the right after takeoff. The aircraft never appeared on radar, and no communication was attempted after departure.
Investigation Findings
Teardowns of both engines, propellers, and turbo components demonstrated that both engines were operating at high power. No evidence of a pre-impact malfunction was found. Review of pilot records showed atypically low total instrument flight hours. The pilot had been cleared to maintain runway heading after takeoff and climb to 2,000 feet.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is loss of control in flight during the initial climb phase of takeoff. Contributing factors include fog, dark night conditions, the pilot's failure to perform the climb, and spatial disorientation.