What happened
The flight was being conducted to relocate the aircraft type to a different facility for necessary repairs to its autopilot system. Prior to departure, the pilot and an avionette technician had discussed a specific rolling issue within the autopilot mechanism. The technician advised against using the automated system until the malfunction was fixed and suggested delaying the flight until weather conditions improved. However, the pilot proceeded with the flight, reportedly due to personal scheduling commitments.
During the flight, the aircraft encountered overcast cloud layers as it began its descent toward the destination. The pilot was cleared to perform an instrument approach; however, during the maneuvering phase, the aircraft dropped below its permitted altitude, prompting a low-altitude alert from air traffic control. Following a brief period of climbing, the aircraft entered a continuous descending right turn. Flight data analysis showed the aircraft was in a steep descent, exceeding 15,000 feet per minute, just before it struck the ground in a near-vertical orientation. There were zero survivors of the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the aircraft's engines and mechanical systems found no malfunctions that would have prevented standard operation. It is believed the pilot was manually flying the aircraft because the autopilot was known to be unreliable. Because the pilot was accustomed to using automation, the transition to manual flight during instrument meteorological conditions likely led to spatial disorientation. Furthermore, the pilot's decision to fly in poor weather without functional automation was influenced by personal time constraints. While various substances were detected in the pilot's system during the autopsy, investigators determined they were unlikely to have played a role in the accident.