What happened
During an approach to Winston-Salem Airport, the pilot of a twin-engine airplane contacted air traffic control to report mechanical difficulties regarding the engines. Following this communication, the aircraft lost stability and entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane transitioned into a dive before impacting a field in the Greensboro area, where it caught fire upon impact.
The crash resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There was one fatality recorded, as the pilot was the only person on board at the time of the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the aircraft entered a stall and began spiraling while descending toward its destination. The loss of control was attributed to foreign material interfering with engine operations. Several specific contributing factors were identified during the investigation:
- Presence of ice within the fuel system
- Instances of fuel starvation
- Inability to sustain necessary flying speed
- Total failure of both engines