What happened
During a night positioning flight under instrument meteorological conditions, a multi-engine airplane operated by a regional airline crashed into terrain. Shortly after departing, the aircraft performed a minor left turn followed by a sustained right turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft reached a peak altitude of 700 feet before contact with the ground occurred approximately 3 miles northwest of the departure airfield. At the time of the incident, local weather observations indicated light rain, mist, and a visibility of 5 statute miles, with an overcast ceiling reported at 400 feet.
Findings
An investigation of the wreckage showed no evidence of mechanical failures occurring prior to the impact. Based on an evaluation of radar tracks and meteorological data, it was determined that the aircraft was accelerating and turning after entering cloud cover. The analysis suggests that the pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation during this phase of flight.