I knew the Aerostar was unforgiving, didn't know the engines were.

I mentioned airplanes turning final inside the crash site to give some
indication of its distance from the airport: the prelim report said it
was about 2 miles.

The PA 60 601P is pressurized/ turbocharged, isn't it? I know the IO
360 that pulled my Mooney around would have had to be leaned for max
power at a density altitude of 4000 feet: do the blown IO 540's need
the same treatment?

The press suggested the a/c was overloaded, but car seats are bulky,
not heavy, and the two kids were said to be in the back seats, so an
aft CG shouldn't have been an issue. Most qualified observers of the
crash suggested he wasn't getting full power, so your hint that
fuel/plugs or some other engine related issue seems on the money. If
the engines were not turbocharged I'd be betting improper leaning for
the density altitude would have a factor, but have no experience at all
with turbocharged engines.

FWIW, there's no evidence at the crash site that anything happened
the no soot and the house had been repaired. Along the highways here
in the southeast, when there's a deadly accident someone often installs
some form of marker as a reminder: flowers, a cross, or some other
token. One must not compromise property values, I guess.

The next time I play the Hills of Lakeway golf course I'll start
erecting a small cairn: look for it, other aviator/golfers, and add a
stone. We'll be the only ones to know what it means.