What happened
The accident occurred approximately 45 minutes after takeoff during a local proficiency flight. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend vertically in a flat spin until it impacted open, flat terrain. Following the impact, most of the airframe was demolished by fire.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the left propeller was found in a feathered position, indicating that the engine had been shut down before impact. However, no pre-impact part failure or malfunction of the airframe or engine was found during the investigation.
Findings
The lack of mechanical failure findings suggests the event was likely due to pilot error or loss of control, though the specific cause remains unconfirmed by physical evidence.