What happened
During a night departure from Cleveland-Hopkins Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power in its left engine. This mechanical failure resulted in a significant reduction in both airspeed and altitude. As the flight progressed, the plane descended into a wooded area, making contact with trees before ultimately striking the roof of a house.
The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. The occupants involved in the crash included the pilot and one other individual.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical contributing factors. The primary cause was determined to be a powerplant failure of an undetermined nature. Additionally, investigators noted that the pilot-in-command did not successfully maintain the necessary flying speed during the emergency.
Further analysis revealed issues regarding the aircraft's configuration prior to flight, specifically noting inadequate preflight preparations and improper loading procedures. The weight and center of gravity (CofG) were incorrectly managed, as the aircraft had exceeded its forward center of gravity limit by 6.36 inches.