What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating at flight level 250, which corresponds to an altitude of 25,000 feet. During this cruise phase, the airplane experienced a sudden and total loss of engine power. With propulsion no longer available, the pilot initiated an emergency descent to regain control and seek a safe landing area.
The descent was directed toward a designated alternate airport. However, during this critical maneuver, the aircraft collided with mountainous terrain. The impact resulted in the complete destruction of the airframe. No survivors were reported from the wreckage.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough post-accident examination and testing of the airframe, engine, and all associated components. The goal was to determine if any mechanical issues contributed to the power loss.
The technical analysis revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure within the examined systems. This finding suggests that the engine failure was not caused by a known defect in the hardware prior to the event.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the total loss of engine power at high altitude. The inability to maintain flight resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain. The investigation confirmed that mechanical failure was not a contributing factor based on physical evidence.