Accident Sequence
The accident occurred shortly after takeoff when the twin-engine airplane impacted trees and terrain. The airplane was destroyed and consumed in a post-impact fire. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane climbing at a lower than normal rate. One witness did not hear the airplane, while another reported that the airplane sounded labored, drawing their attention to it.
The airplane came to rest approximately 3,500 feet from the departure end of the runway and 700 feet left of the extended runway centerline. The wreckage path through the trees was oriented about 65 degrees left of the runway heading, with the left wingtip being the first piece of wreckage encountered.
Wreckage and Propeller Examination
Examination of the right propeller revealed chordwise scratching, leading edge damage, and bending and twisting opposite to the direction of rotation. Several tree cuts were predominantly on the right side of the wreckage path. In contrast, the left propeller, propeller blades, and propeller spinner showed no evidence of rotation.
No pre-impact anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, right engine, or right propeller during the on-scene examination. A follow-on examination of the left engine and propeller also revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
Fuel System Analysis
Fuel calculations based on the power setting table, airspeed chart, and en-route distance indicated that the airplane consumed 56 to 71 gallons of fuel (28 to 35.5 gallons per side) during the previous leg of the round-trip flight. The main fuel tanks had a total capacity of 112 gallons (56 gallons per side). However, this quantity would not have been sufficient to complete the round-trip flight on the main fuel tanks alone. The outboard auxiliary fuel tanks held 40 gallons per side.
After the accident, the left fuel selector was found positioned to the inboard main fuel tank, while the right fuel selector was positioned to the outboard auxiliary fuel tank. The airplane flight manual stipulates that only the main fuel tanks are to be used for takeoff and landing. No fuel was obtained for the return flight.
Probable Cause
The official findings stated the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to follow the before take-off checklist which led to an improper selection of the auxiliary fuel tanks for the takeoff leading to the subsequent fuel starvation of the left engine. Additional causes were the pilot not maintaining minimum controllable airspeed which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. The trees and the pilot's unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine by selecting the main fuel tank were contributing factors in the accident.