What happened
A flight originating from Rockyford, Colorado, ended in a fatal accident near Lamesa. While the pilot was operating the aircraft alone, the right engine suffered a mechanical breakdown. During the subsequent attempt to perform an emergency landing following the loss of power, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The plane impacted a sandy region, resulting in a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe. There was one fatality involving the pilot.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the right engine experienced an internal failure. Specifically, the master and connecting rods within the engine failed while the aircraft was in flight. This mechanical breakdown led to the loss of propulsion. The investigation also identified several contributing elements:
- Internal failure of the right engine components
- Material failure within the engine assembly
- Loss of directional control during the emergency descent