Cessna 402B facts. Engines TSIO-520E 300hp. MTOW 2898kg. Cruise @ 65% = 180kts at 10,000' In short a lovely aircraft if treated in a professional manner. News Media reports state that the pilot had recently been in court on drug charges and that he was not listed on the operators list of pilots authorised to operate that aircraft. The media also states that the pilot had an argument with the passengers about overloading the aircraft prior to departure. I would say he didn't know weather it was christmas night or cracker night. In his state of mind I might dare to suggest that he was going to give the pax a scare by pulling up hard on departure and it all back fired. p.s. lycoming IO-540's do fail.