What happened
During the initial climb phase shortly after departing the runway, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. This sudden loss of thrust caused the aircraft to enter a stall condition, leading it to descend back onto the runway surface.
Upon striking the ground, the left main landing gear collapsed under the force of the impact. The aircraft eventually came to a stop on the airfield. While there were no fatalities or injuries reported among those on board, the structural damage sustained during the excursion was severe. Due to the extent of the damage, the airframe was declared a total loss and was not returned to service. The wreckage was subsequently relocated to the South Australian Aviation Museum in Port Adelaide.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor was a double engine failure occurring at a critical moment during the takeoff sequence.