Accident Sequence
The aircraft crashed in a residential area following a loss of control by the pilot. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was climbing through an overcast in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. The last radio transmission received from the flight was the pilot's response of "four" to a request for altitude.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft diving vertically from the clouds. It then leveled off briefly before entering a nose-up 90-degree bank at low altitude. The aircraft contacted the ground in a 90-degree left bank and cartwheeled, causing damage to five single-family residences, three automobiles, and some landscaping. No persons on the ground were injured.
Weather Conditions
The weather was reported as a 1500-foot overcast ceiling with cloud tops between 4000 and 4300 feet. Visibility was 2 miles in haze.
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident examination revealed that both engines were operating at impact. All aircraft components were accounted for at the accident site. Small items of fairing and aluminum skin were found along the flight path for a distance of two blocks.