What happened
During the final approach phase at Springfield Airport, a twin engine airplane experienced significant instability. The aircraft suffered a loss of both airspeed and altitude, eventually leading to an aerodynamic stall. The plane impacted the ground before reaching the runway, and the subsequent impact resulted in a fire that completely destroyed the airframe. There was only one person on board, the pilot, who was killed in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical factors that contributed to the loss of control. The primary cause was an aerodynamic stall occurring during an attempt to execute a go-around maneuver. Several contributing elements were noted by investigators:
- A delay in the commencement of the go-around procedure.
- An inability to sustain the necessary flying speed.
- Improper weight and balance loading of the aircraft.
- Discrepancies in the Center of Gravity (CofG), where the calculated CofG at the time of the accident was 100.2 inches, falling outside the permitted range of 107 to 120.5 inches.