Introduction
During a dark night with visual meteorological conditions, an aircraft operating under instrument flight rules at an assigned altitude of 8,000 feet encountered electrical difficulties. Air traffic control reported losing the aircraft's transponder signal, and the pilot acknowledged ongoing electrical problems in the cockpit, stating they were attempting to resolve the situation.
Flight Details
Shortly after the pilot's transmission, radar contact was lost as the aircraft began a descent toward a nearby joint-use military-civilian airport equipped with approach control radar. Although the aircraft was not positively identified, primary radar tracked it to a point 2.8 miles from the airport. During the final miles of flight, the aircraft proceeded westbound over a sparsely populated rural area offering minimal or no visual references due to the dark night.
Witnesses and Impact
Witnesses in the area reported hearing engine sounds followed by the sound of impact. The aircraft struck the ground in an inverted attitude, with the landing gear extended in emergency mode. A flashlight was found in the hand of the pilot-rated passenger.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination revealed that the left generator was inoperative. Additionally, the grounding wire terminal end from the right voltage regulator exhibited burn damage. No probable cause was stated in the investigation source.