What happened
Following takeoff, a twin-engine aircraft experienced significant power fluctuations approximately 0.5 miles from the runway departure end. Observers noted that the engine noise appeared to surge and that the aircraft performed a sharp turn back toward the airfield. Witnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to be operating on only one engine, describing a pattern where the engine would rev and then lose power repeatedly.
Radar tracking monitored the aircraft during its descent, recording speeds of 93 knots at an altitude of 700 feet and 90 knots at 500 feet as it approached the runway. However, the aircraft struck the ground before reaching the approach end of the runway. There were no fatalities reported in the wreckage.
Findings
Post-accident investigations of the wreckage found no evidence of mechanical failure occurring prior to the crash. The aircraft's fuel system, which has a total capacity of 226 gallons, utilizes interconnected tanks that feed both engines through a central sump. Upon inspection, the fuel cells were found to be intact but contained only minimal amounts of fuel. When the drain petcock at the center sump was opened, only 1 quart of fuel was recovered, suggesting fuel exhaustion was a primary factor in the loss of power.