Accident Details
After departing from San Diego-Lindbergh Field, the twin-engine airplane was in initial climb. It then banked to the left, lost altitude, and crashed in flames. The aircraft carried two pilots and four passengers. The pilots sustained fatal injuries, while all four passengers were injured.
Determining Cause
Investigators concluded that the left engine stopped after liftoff due to a crew error. Contributing factors included spontaneous and improper actions by both the pilot and copilot, improper operation of the powerplant, failure to maintain flying speed, and one pilot inadvertently shutting off the left engine magneto switches, which caused a loss of control.