Accident Overview
A private airplane departed Dubois, Pennsylvania, en route to Roanoke, Virginia. During the flight, one of the engines failed. The pilot subsequently reduced altitude and attempted an emergency landing in Mahaffey, Pennsylvania. The airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field.
Occupants
Both occupants of the aircraft died in the crash. The pilot was identified as Curtis Turner, a 46-year-old racer. The passenger was Clarence King, a golfer.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be a powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. Additional factors reported include alcoholic impairment of the pilot's efficiency and judgment, with a blood alcohol level of 1.7‰. Evidence also indicated that the passenger, Clarence King, had suffered a severe heart attack prior to the accident.