What happened
In the period leading up to the accident, the aircraft's left engine had been noted for an inability to reach full power. Although efforts were made by the pilot and maintenance staff to resolve this issue, the mechanical discrepancy remained unaddressed at the time of the flight. During the takeoff roll, observers noted that the aircraft appeared to be accelerating at a slower rate than usual.
The aircraft type utilized the full 4,501-foot runway before exiting the paved surface. The plane proceeded through a 300-foot strip of grass and a 300-foot soybean field, eventually striking 10-foot-tall corn stalks for a distance of approximately 50 feet before gaining altitude. Roughly 0.5 miles from the departure point, the aircraft struck several trees while in a nose-low attitude with the left wing leading the impact. This flight attitude was consistent with the aircraft being operated at a speed below the minimum controllable threshold. A post-impact fire destroyed the primary wreckage.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage revealed no mechanical failures regarding the airframe, the right engine, or the propellers that would have prevented standard operation. While the left engine had a known history of underperforming, the intensity of the post-impact fire prevented a definitive assessment of the specific engine failure. The primary factor in the accident was the inability of the left engine to produce full power during the takeoff roll.