What happened
During the final approach to the destination airport, an eyewitness with a pilot rating observed the aircraft exhibiting unstable flight characteristics. The observer noted that the plane was traveling at a low speed with a high pitch attitude, describing the flight behavior as unstable. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a stall and struck the ground approximately 300 feet from the runway.
Data retrieved from GPS and ADS-B sources provided insight into the flight path, though the ADS-B signal ceased approximately 0.24 miles prior to the impact. Analysis of the GPS records indicated that the aircraft's velocity was at or near the established stall speed for its specific loading configuration. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings and the fuselage.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft confirmed that the engines, flight controls, and various onboard systems were fully functional and showed no evidence of pre-impact failure or continuity issues. No mechanical anomalies were identified within the engine or airframe components prior to the crash.
Investigation determined that the primary cause of the accident was that the pilot allowed the airspeed to drop during the approach phase. This reduction in speed, combined with an increased pitch attitude, caused the aircraft to exceed its critical angle of attack, leading to an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent spin into the terrain.