Accident Details
An airplane crashed into a wooded area approximately 8 minutes after departure, according to the official investigation. The accident occurred after the aircraft entered a glide descent, with wreckage evidence showing it struck trees at a glide angle of 8°. The pilot's operating handbook specifies a power-off forced landing glide angle of 6°.
Occupants
All seven occupants were killed in the crash. The occupants consisted of two British, two German, and two Swiss tourists, along with the US pilot.
Wreckage and Engine Examination
Investigators noted that the propeller did not exhibit rotational damage, indicating a lack of engine power at impact. An engine teardown revealed catastrophic detonation in the #1 cylinder.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined to be detonation (or pre-ignition) in the #1 cylinder, which resulted in erosion (burning) of the #1 piston and subsequent loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.