What happened
On a local flight intended to inspect N333AA prior to its transfer to a new owner, a pilot was conducting a brief 35-minute operation. While entering the traffic pattern at Billings, Montana, the aircraft type (not specified in source) struck the ground during a steep descent. At the time of the impact, the aircraft maintained a wings-level attitude.
Eyewitnesses reported that the engines appeared to be functioning normally during the approach and noted that there were no visible maneuvers performed by the pilot to evade the terrain. The flight was operating under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft and sustained one fatality.
Findings
Official investigations into the accident identified two primary contributing factors regarding the pilot in command:
- Failure to maintain the required altitude
- Pilot incapacitation