What happened
Following a request for 100LL Avgas, an aircraft underwent refueling and a standard preflight inspection, which included checking fuel caps and taking samples from the wing and rear drains. The engine start, run-up, and taxi procedures were completed without incident. Upon departing runway 17, the aircraft achieved a positive rate of climb, but at an altitude of approximately 200 feet AGL, the engines began to lose power. Despite the pilot adjusting the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls to the full forward position, both engines failed. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency off-field landing. The impact resulted in the left wing separating from the airframe and the destruction of the aft cabin area.
Findings
Investigations determined that the aircraft's engines were contaminated with incorrect fuel. A refueling attendant reported that 58 gallons of Jet-A were mistakenly pumped into the aircraft instead of the requested Avgas. Post-accident analysis of fuel samples from both engines confirmed that the fuel contained 70 percent Jet-A. This mismatched fuel type led to the simultaneous loss of power in both engines during the climb phase.