Piper PA-23-250 accident near Detroit, Michigan, November 8, 2004

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The multi-engine airplane collided with power lines, a house, a tree, and a fence following a loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb. A second house sustained fire and impact damage from flying debris. The pilot reported all engine indications were normal until after takeoff. The pilot reported he estimated being about 50 feet above ground level when he noticed a "split" in the manifold pressure and rpm indicating a loss of power on the left engine. He stated he turned to the south (left) to avoid obstacles and attempted to land in a field. A pilot-rated passenger reported that after takeoff, the pilot "seemed to be having problems gaining and maintaining altitude." She reported that she thought the pilot was returning to the airport when they began to lose altitude and that she heard the stall warning horn come on twice during the flight. She stated she was busy making call-outs and looking at the airspeed, and therefore did not know which engine had lost power or if the propeller had been feathered. Both engines had sustained heat and impact damage. Post accident inspection of the engines failed to reveal any failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. Detailed inspection of the left engine propeller revealed the propeller had not been feathered prior to impact. The airplane information manual states that once the "... faulty engine is identified and its power loss verified, its propeller should be feathered."

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.