Flight History
After a local maintenance flight, the crew returned to St. Petersburg to practice full stop landings. Shortly after becoming airborne during the second takeoff, the right engine experienced a power loss.
Engine Power Loss and Crash
The aircraft was observed to climb to about 50 feet above ground level, then veer right and crash east of the runway. Other than a malfunctioning right fuel tank selector that allowed fuel to bypass to other fuel tanks, there was no pre-impact failure or malfunction.
Fuel System Examination
Both right fuel tanks were empty, while the left tanks contained approximately 175 gallons of fuel. Subsequent tests showed that fluid in the right tank would bypass the right fuel selector and leak into the left tank when the aircraft sat with the left wing low for about 12 hours.
Aircraft Airworthiness
The aircraft was not airworthy, as all requirements of an approved 91.217 inspection program were not complied with.
Pilot Experience and Training
The pilot-in-command had 5 hours as pilot-in-command of a DC-3 during the last 5 months, with one hour and two takeoffs and landings in the last 90 days. This was the first flight in a DC-3 for the copilot, with no record of any training in the DC-3.
Probable Cause
The official findings identified three occurrences: (1) loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb, with undetermined reason, inadequate maintenance by other maintenance personnel, and inadequate fuel system selector/valve; (2) loss of control during takeoff initial climb due to procedures/directives not followed by the pilot-in-command, improper emergency procedure by the pilot-in-command, inadequate recurrent training of the pilot-in-command, and lack of recent experience in type of aircraft by the pilot-in-command; (3) in-flight collision with terrain during takeoff initial climb.