Accident Overview
A twin-engine airplane impacted terrain while executing a low altitude maneuvering turn. The accident occurred in a desert area with ridges, where the pilot had been conducting elk scouting flights for hunters in the days prior. These flights were performed below 500 feet above ground level (AGL) in the same general vicinity.
Flight History
Video footage from a previous scouting trip showed the airplane flying slightly above the horizon with the landing gear extended over the local terrain. The aircraft configuration during the accident was consistent with these earlier flights: the landing gear was deployed, and the flap jackscrew indicated a 10-degree flap position. A handheld GPS receiver recovered at the site recorded the flight path leading up to the impact.
Accident Sequence
According to GPS data, the airplane entered a left-hand turn at a speed of 70 knots. Halfway through the turn, the speed decreased to 59 knots. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane specifies that, in a level 30-degree angle of bank turn with landing gear down and flaps at 8 degrees, the stall speed is 66 knots. During the turn, the airplane experienced an accelerated stall, entered an uncontrolled descent, and impacted terrain with a right-wing-down attitude. The pilot did not have sufficient altitude to recover from the descent.
Wreckage Examination
The initial point of impact contained green glass fragments from the right wing position light. The right main landing gear strut was found separate from the main wreckage in the debris field, indicating it was likely deployed. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure of the control systems or power plants.