What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Prior to accident, ATC radar display showed the aircraft maneuvering east of klwc at approximately 2,200' MSL, with the last radar return showing 2,000' (terrain elevation 813'). Three witnesses who were surveying a field adjacent to the crash site stated that they saw the aircraft in level flight when the engines quit abruptly, and the airplane pitched down and crashed. Post-accident investigation indicated that both propellers were in their low pitch position with damage consistent with low RPM rotational forces. The fuel lines to the boost pumps, and the lines from the pumps to the fuel injector dividers, were devoid of fuel on both engines; however, both fuel valves were found in their open position. The fuel valve and boost pump switches for each engine are next to each other on the cockpit overhead panel. While the fuel valves must be on during flight operations, the company check list calls for the boost pump switches to be placed in the off position at the completion of maneuvering flight.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, ATC RADAR DISPLAY SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING EAST OF KLWC AT APPROXIMATELY 2,200' MSL, WITH THE LAST RADAR RETURN SHOWING 2,000' (TERRAIN ELEVATION 813'). THREE WITNESSES WHO WERE SURVEYING A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE CRASH SITE STATED THAT THEY SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINES QUIT ABRUPTLY, AND THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN AND CRASHED. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT BOTH PROPELLERS WERE IN THEIR LOW PITCH POSITION WITH DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH LOW RPM ROTATIONAL FORCES. THE FUEL LINES TO THE BOOST PUMPS, AND THE LINES FROM THE PUMPS TO THE FUEL INJECTOR DIVIDERS, WERE DEVOID OF FUEL ON BOTH ENGINES; HOWEVER, BOTH FUEL VALVES WERE FOUND IN THEIR OPEN POSITION. THE FUEL VALVE AND BOOST PUMP SWITCHES FOR EACH ENGINE ARE NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON THE COCKPIT OVERHEAD PANEL. WHILE THE FUEL VALVES MUST BE ON DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS, THE COMPANY CHECK LIST CALLS FOR THE BOOST PUMP SWITCHES TO BE PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION AT THE COMPLETION OF MANEUVERING FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.