Accident Details
During an approach to Alief-Andrau Airpark, the airplane experienced a failure of one engine. The ceiling at the time was reported to be between 400 and 600 feet, with visibility of one mile or less. Due to insufficient airspeed, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and subsequently crashed. The accident resulted in the death of the pilot and serious injuries to two other occupants.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
Official findings determined that the probable cause of the accident was an engine malfunction during approach for undetermined reasons. Several contributing factors were identified: failure to maintain flying speed, the low ceiling, complete loss of power from one engine, reduced visibility (one mile or less), and weather conditions at the airport near Andrau with ceilings of 400 to 600 feet.