What happened
During an en route flight phase, the aircraft experienced a critical mechanical issue. The specific nature of the problem was identified as an engine failure, which rendered the airframe uncontrollable or unsafe for continued flight. In response to the emergency, the crew initiated an immediate ejection procedure. All three individuals on board successfully abandoned the aircraft and deployed their parachutes.
Following the crew's departure, the unmanned airframe lost altitude rapidly. It descended into a ground impact within a prairie environment. The collision with the terrain resulted in the total destruction of the vehicle. Despite the severity of the crash and the loss of the aircraft, all three crew members survived the incident without sustaining injuries.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the primary factor leading to the accident was the mechanical malfunction of the propulsion system. The engine failure was determined to be the direct cause of the emergency situation that necessitated the crew's ejection and the subsequent uncontrolled descent of the aircraft.