WCollins,
Regarding your engine-out performance, how did you evaluate the power setting for simulating engine-out on that day, and what was it, please?
Your remarks about retracting the gear late in your Aztec are way off the mark. The technique you describe has benefits for single-engined aircraft, but you're being unnecessarily pessimistic in your aircraft.
Flight Safety,
Speculation such as yours seldon achieves anything more than upset of those close to the deceased and injured. How much training in air safety investigation has your wife had?