Flight Sequence
Approximately 1.5 minutes after departure from Springfield, Illinois, the flight crew reported a slight electrical problem but continued on course. About 33 minutes later, a few minutes before the aircraft was expected to reach its destination, it crashed. Impact occurred while the aircraft was descending in a right wing low attitude. Before the crash, the aircraft's heading had changed approximately 180 degrees.
Electrical System Anomalies
Analysis of the cockpit voice recorder transcript revealed that the left generator had failed after takeoff. The first officer mistakenly isolated the right generator, and subsequent attempts to restore it were unsuccessful. The captain elected to continue to the destination rather than return to the nearby departure airport. Cloud bases were at 2,000 feet mean sea level, but air traffic control could not provide an IFR clearance below 3,000 feet. Just before the crash, the crew indicated a total loss of electrical power. Examination showed that the left generator drive shaft had sheared. The reason why the right generator could not be reset was not determined.
Investigation Findings
The investigation found evidence that recurrent flight crew training did not prepare the crew to understand and cope with the electrical problem. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration surveillance did not detect the training deficiency.