December 8, 2012, Lake Worth, Fla. - Cessna 421C Golden Eagle

At 1334 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with trees and terrain following a loss of control after takeoff. The solo commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight followed an annual inspection and repainting. According to the mechanic, the pilot performed a ground run of the airplane for several minutes before taxiing for takeoff. The airplane lifted off about halfway down the runway and climbed at a “normal” rate. The mechanic then observed the airplane suddenly yaw to the left “for a second or two” and the airplane’s nose continued to pitch up before rolling left and descending vertically, nose-down, until it disappeared from view.

Editorial Staff

Friday, January 18, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A solo commercial pilot was fatally injured when their airplane crashed shortly after takeoff following a loss of control.
A mechanic observed the airplane lift off normally, then suddenly yaw left, pitch up, roll left, and descend vertically.
Post-crash examination revealed the left engine's propeller blades were in the feathered position, while the right engine's remaining blades were at a low pitch, indicating a potential differential thrust issue.

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The flight followed an annual inspection and repainting. According to the mechanic, the pilot performed a ground run of the airplane for several minutes before taxiing for takeoff. The airplane lifted off about halfway down the runway and climbed at a “normal” rate. The mechanic then observed the airplane suddenly yaw to the left “for a second or two” and the airplane’s nose continued to pitch up before rolling left and descending vertically, nose-down, until it disappeared from view.

Examination of the main landing gear actuators revealed positions consistent with a down-and-locked configuration. All three propeller blades of the left engine were attached at the hub, and in the “feathered” position. One blade of the right engine was separated and not recovered. The remaining blade hubs showed positions consistent with low pitch.