Flight Progression
Operating under instrument flight rules at an altitude of 6,000 feet mean sea level, the pilot contacted air traffic control to inquire about the cloud base. Not long after, the pilot communicated that the attitude indicator had failed and that all vacuum pumps were inoperative. Subsequently, the pilot expressed that he had lost awareness of the aircraft's orientation.
Witness Accounts
Individuals on the ground reported seeing the aircraft descending with a pronounced nose-down attitude and a steep bank. The weather conditions at the time included fog and rain.
Wreckage and Examination
The aircraft broke apart upon impact, with debris spread across a distance of 105 feet. The impact angle was determined to be 45 degrees nose-down. An examination of the vacuum pump found no indications of a mechanical failure prior to impact.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not assign a probable cause.