What happened
During the landing phase, the aircraft was cleared for approach but began exhibiting unstable flight characteristics. While on short final, the plane was observed rolling to the right and then to the following left, entering a yawing motion. This was followed by a nose-down descent that ended in a parking lot. Eyewitnesses noted that the aircraft was flying at an extremely low altitude during its final approach.
Prior to the accident, the pilot had not flown for approximately 83 days. Investigations into the aircraft's maintenance history were limited, as no current logbooks or maintenance records were found at the scene, with the exception of a single invoice from December 20, 1994. This document indicated that an annual inspection had been performed and that six fuel inlet float valves had been replaced to satisfy an airworthiness directive.
Findings
Mechanical inspections of the airframe, propellers, and engines following the crash revealed no structural or mechanical discrepancies. Analysis of the propellers showed symmetrical power signatures on both units, suggesting no engine-related power imbalance contributed to the loss of control.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed cardiomegaly and focal patchy replacement fibrosis, along with mild inflammation. Toxicology reports identified the presence of therapeutic levels of acetaminophen, naproxen, salicylate, and diphenhydramine in both the blood and urine. The presence of diphenhydramine is significant due to its potential to induce drowsiness.