Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The examination revealed the left engine fuel tank valve was in the Off position, which starved the left engine of fuel, creating a total loss of left engine power. The left engine propeller was not feathered, and the landing gear was extended.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper decision to attempt continued flight after a loss of left engine power with usable runway remaining and his subsequent failure to follow the emergency procedures and maintain air minimum control speed, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper fuel tank selection that resulted in a loss of left engine power due to fuel starvation.
