Accident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft departed Moulins-Montbeugny Airport in the morning on a training flight to Clermont-Ferrand, carrying two pilots and two passengers. The purpose of the flight was to extend the IFR rating of the pilot in the left seat. After a stop in Clermont-Ferrand, the crew returned to Moulins.
Sequence of Events
Over Moulins, air traffic control cleared the crew to leave the frequency, and they reported an intention to perform several manoeuvres in the vicinity of Moulins Airport for 30 minutes. Three touch-and-go landings were conducted on runway 26. Subsequently, the aircraft continued at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet when it became unstable on its roll axis. It nosed down and crashed in a wooded area known as 'Bois de Bordes', located 7 km north of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all four occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft struck the ground with its landing gear and flaps retracted. Both engines were rotating at the time of impact; however, the left engine was providing less power than the right engine at the moment of their respective impacts. The right engine power lever was in the beta range before impact. No anomalies were reported by the crew prior to the accident.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause states that the accident was probably due to a loss of control during an engine failure exercise, though the exact chronology of the crew's actions could not be determined.