What happened
Prior to departure, the pilot ensured that both wing fuel tanks were completely filled. Following a successful takeoff, the aircraft climbed to a planned cruising altitude of 24,000 ft msl. During the en route phase of the flight, the pilot experienced a flame-out in the left engine. In response to this failure, the pilot initiated a descent and diverted from the original flight path to seek an alternative landing site.
As the aircraft descended to approximately 7,900 ft msl, the right engine also suffered a loss of power. The pilot communicated that the aircraft would be unable to reach the intended airport. Shortly after the second engine failure, the aircraft struck a group of trees. The impact was severe enough that the right wing and the empennage were separated from the main fuselage.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a successive loss of power in both engines during the descent.
- The impact with terrain resulted in the structural separation of the aircraft's tail and right wing.