What happened
The flight departed from Jesup, Georgia, with its destination set for St. Simons Island, Georgia. During the approach phase, witnesses observed the aircraft maintaining a shallow descent profile. At the time of impact with a cluster of trees, the engines were recorded as running at a high rate of speed.
The investigation
A medical examination was conducted on the pilot following the accident. The physician who performed the autopsy noted specific physiological indicators regarding the pilot's condition at the moment of the crash.
Findings
The medical evidence provided critical insight into the sequence of events leading to the impact. The autopsy results indicated that there was sufficient evidence to suggest the pilot's heart had ceased beating prior to the aircraft striking the trees.