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:

An airplane was destroyed and its solo commercial pilot fatally injured following a loss of control shortly after takeoff.
A witness observed the aircraft suddenly yaw left, pitch up, roll, and descend vertically after an initial normal climb.
Post-crash examination revealed the landing gear was down, the left engine propeller was feathered, and the right engine propeller was in a low-pitch (power-producing) position, though one blade was separated.

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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.