What happened
During the takeoff roll on an 8,000-foot runway, the Piper PA-31P utilized approximately half of the available runway length. Observers noted that the aircraft's climb profile appeared unusually flat. Shortly after departing, the pilot notified the tower controller that the aircraft had experienced an engine loss and expressed an intention to return to the runway. However, the controller observed the aircraft continuing on its path while losing altitude.
Witnesses located north of the airfield reported hearing erratic, sputtering, and backfiring noises coming from the engines. The aircraft was seen traveling north at a low altitude with a high nose-up attitude. This was followed by a visible stall, after which the plane entered a vertical dive into a wooded area. The wreckage and debris field, including broken trees, spanned roughly 120 feet. Post-accident inspection showed that the airframe, engines, and the right propeller had sustained fire damage, though certain components of the left engine and propeller assembly were missing from the site.
Findings
Investigations into the recovered components were unable to identify any specific mechanical malfunctions. While the aircraft's stall speed for a weight of 7,800 lbs is documented at 81 KIAS with gear and flaps up, the primary factor in the loss of control was the engine failure during the climbout phase.