Accident Overview
A twin-engine airplane took off from Birmingham, Alabama, carrying a pilot and six potential customers on a demonstration flight destined for Mobile, Alabama. While cruising at normal altitude, the aircraft suffered a complete in-flight breakup. It then dove into the ground and crashed near Demopolis, Alabama. The airplane was completely destroyed in the impact. All seven people on board—the pilot and six passengers—died as a result of the crash.
Investigation
The official investigation into the accident determined the probable cause to be an airframe failure in flight due to poor/inadequate design. The investigation also reported several specific findings concerning the aircraft's systems and structure. These findings included issues with the flight control systems, specifically the elevator and elevator tab control system. Flutter was identified as a problem. The elevator assembly and its attachments were found to have separated in flight. The separation of these flight control surfaces led to the breakup.