Accident Overview
At approximately 0910 local time, the aircraft departed from runway 32 at Horn Island and began a normal climb. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft adopted a nose-high attitude and performed a wingover-type maneuver to the right. Witnesses observed the aircraft in a nose-low attitude at an altitude of about 600 to 700 feet above ground level after the maneuver. The aircraft then abruptly leveled off and rapidly entered a spin to the left.
Asymmetric Engine Power
Witnesses on the ground reported that around the time the spin began, engine power became asymmetric. The right engine continued to deliver considerable power, while indications suggested the left engine was producing little or no power. The left propeller was found in the feathered position prior to impact.
Descent and Impact
The aircraft descended in a fully developed flat spin with no observed attempts at recovery. The sound of impact was heard shortly after the aircraft descended behind vegetation to the northwest of the aerodrome. The accident was reported to Flight Service by radio at 0918. The wreckage was located on a beach approximately 2 kilometers northwest of the aerodrome. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
Investigation Findings
The investigation reported the following findings: The pilot held a valid pilot license and medical certificate and was endorsed on the aircraft type. The aircraft entered a flat spin to the left with no reported signs of recovery attempts. It struck the ground while established in a flat left spin. The right engine was producing considerable power before impact, while the left engine was producing little or no power with its propeller feathered. No evidence of malfunction or pre-existing defects that could have affected normal operation was found. No evidence indicated pilot incapacitation due to medical condition or alcohol/drugs. The pilot's behavior on the morning of the accident was not consistent with a thorough and professional attitude to aviation.