What happened
During a scheduled training mission traveling from Los Angeles toward Ontario, the crew was performing a specialized procedure designed to simulate an engine failure. The objective of the flight was for the supervised pilot to execute an ILS approach with one engine non-functional, followed by a missed approach and a go-around maneuver.
As the aircraft was on final approach to runway 25R, the plane became uncontrollable and struck a field. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused the deaths of all five crew members.
Findings
Investigations determined that the accident was triggered by the failure of a support fitting for the rudder hydraulic actuator. This mechanical failure led to an undetected loss of control over the left rudder. Because the flight was being conducted under conditions simulating an engine-out scenario, the loss of directional control prevented the crew from stabilizing the aircraft during the go-around phase. Additionally, environmental factors played a role, as existing weather conditions reduced external visual references, making it difficult for the flight check captain to quickly identify the change in aircraft performance.