What happened
While operating at a cruise altitude of 600 feet, the pilot lost control of the aircraft for reasons that could not be determined. The aircraft descended from its assigned altitude and was last tracked by radar at 5600 feet before it disappeared from surveillance.
No significant weather was observed at the time of the accident. The wreckage was distributed over an area approximately one mile in length, oriented in the opposite direction of the intended flight path. Components from the empennage section were located roughly one mile away from the main wreckage site. Additionally, the left wing flap assembly separated from the airframe and was recovered about 1/2 mile west of the primary debris field.
The investigation
The investigation found no evidence of mechanical failure. The pilot had not reported any mechanical issues prior to the event, and no malfunctions were discovered during the examination of the wreckage at the accident site. Furthermore, a post-mortem examination of the pilot did not reveal any medical condition that would have prevented the performance of normal flight duties. Two specific components—the left wing flap assembly and a two-foot section of the right horizontal stabilator trim tab—were not recovered for examination.