What happened
During a night cruise flight, the pilot of the aircraft declared an emergency after reporting heavy smoke in the cockpit and an active engine fire. While air traffic control was vectoring the aircraft toward a local airport, the event unfolded over approximately three minutes. Witnesses, including an air traffic controller, observed the aircraft in a descent with its landing lights illuminated. The controller noted that while the plane initially appeared to be heading toward the airport, the engine area subsequently became engulfed in yellow flames. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into a residential property.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the wreckage showed that the aircraft was heavily fragmented due to the impact and the subsequent post-crash fire. Investigators found that much of the in-flight fire damage was concentrated on the right side of the aircraft, extending from the engine cowling back to the right passenger door. Additionally, during firefighting efforts, magnesium engine parts were exposed to water, which resulted in further damage to various engine components and accessories. The investigation could not determine the specific source of the engine fire.