What happened
Following an earlier flight leg, the pilot diverted to an intermediate airport to refuel before returning to the home base. Surveillance footage from the fueling station captured the aircraft type landing and taxiing to a self-serve pump. After a ten-minute period of engine shutdown for refueling, the pilot encountered significant difficulty restarting both engines, which took several minutes to stabilize.
Upon completing the engine start, the aircraft taxied toward the runway. The pilot proceeded with a rolling takeoff without performing a standard engine run-up. The aircraft became airborne after traveling approximately 2,100 feet, utilizing more than half of the runway length. Shortly after liftoff, at an altitude between 50 and 100 feet, a passenger noted that both engines began stuttering and failed to maintain full RPM.
As the power loss occurred, the aircraft began drifting left of the centerline with a noticeable yawing motion. While the pilot managed to correct the drift and fly over the grass adjacent to the runway, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient altitude. ADS-B data showed the aircraft climbing between 20 and 120 feet while entering a gradual left turn, with groundspeed dropping from 80 knots to 69 knots. The descent continued until the aircraft reached 50 feet agl, at which point the turn radius tightened and groundspeed fell to 66 knots. The flight ended when the aircraft descended into a residential structure.
Findings
- Both engines experienced a partial loss of power following a difficult restart after refueling.
- The loss of engine power may have been asymmetric, as evidenced by witness reports of leftward yawing during both the takeoff roll and the final turn.
- The aircraft was unable to maintain a positive rate of climb, leading to the impact.