What happened
A training mission operated by the Capital Airlines flight training department was underway to prepare two copilots for promotion to captain. The crew, consisting of one instructor and two students, departed at 06:25 under visual flight rules. The flight was intended to operate within a designated practice area northwest and northeast of Washington, D.C.
The aircraft, registration N88835, a Convair 340 (implied by context/type), was fully fueled with 820 gallons of fuel and was operating within weight and balance limitations. Following takeoff, the crew provided a routine radio update to the company at 06:31 regarding their flight duration and fuel status. There were no further radio communications recorded prior to the accident.
At approximately 07:45, witnesses observed the aircraft in the vicinity of Clarksburg, Maryland. The plane was seen performing maneuvers before plunging into the ground. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical failure, engine malfunction, or issues with the control systems. The weather conditions were clear and did not contribute to the event.
The crew was performing a "canyon approach" maneuver at an altitude of roughly 2,500 feet above the ground (3,000 feet MSL). During the phase where the approach was being abandoned, the aircraft experienced an inadvertent stall that transitioned into a spin. While the aircraft's rotation had ceased prior to hitting the ground, the crew lacked sufficient altitude to recover from the spin.