Summerville

After touchdown on wet runway 24 at Summerville Airport, the airplane is believed to have hydroplaned. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 24 is 5,000 feet long), it overran and came to rest against a berm, bursting into flames. All five occupants evacuated safely while the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

According to the pilot, prior to takeoff, he had the airplane fueled with 20 gallons of fuel in each wing for the short cross-country flight. After takeoff the airplane climbed to an altitude of 9500 feet. During the downwind to the arrival airport the right engine lost power. Shortly after the left engine lost power, the pilot made an emergency off-airport landing. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not beached, and there was a small amount of residual fuel in the fuel tanks. The exact amount of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the departure was not determined.