What happened
During the early stages of flight following departure from Memphis Airport, the aircraft type experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. While performing the initial climb, the loss of thrust led to an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently descended into an open field, where the impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.
The pilot was the only person on board at the time of the accident. Following the crash, the pilot sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary reason for the dual engine failure was fuel exhaustion. Several contributing elements were noted in the official report, including:
- Inadequate preparation prior to the flight
- The depletion of available fuel
- An overload failure
- Total loss of power in both engines
- A collapse of the landing gear