What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation conducted under instrument flight rules, an aircraft departed an airport situated adjacent to an ocean bay. At the time of the flight, weather conditions were visual, though wind gusts of up to 26 knots were recorded. Nearby residents reported even more severe wind conditions, estimating speeds between 50 and 60 knots.
Prior to takeoff, a fuel truck operator observed the aircraft idling on the ramp for approximately 6 to 8 minutes with both engines running, a behavior noted as highly unusual for the crew's standard routine. Following departure, no further radio contact was established with the flight crew. The aircraft subsequently crashed roughly one mile offshore, resulting in the fragmented wreckage sinking into the ocean. Due to the strength of ocean currents and the dispersed nature of the debris, the entire wreckage could not be retrieved.
Findings
Investigation of the recovered components revealed that the propellers showed marks indicating they were functioning within normal parameters and producing power at the time of the incident. A mechanical inspection of the engines found no evidence of any malfunction or deficiency. However, the forward cockpit area and the airframe sustained such extensive fragmentation from the high-speed water impact that the condition of the flight instruments and the continuity of the flight controls could not be reliably determined. Because no mechanical failures were identified in the engines or propellers, investigators concluded that the aircraft likely experienced an in-flight loss of control of undetermined origin prior to hitting the water.