Accident Details
The accident occurred during a local training flight at Lake Charles Airport. The crew had been performing several touch-and-go maneuvers, which are practice landings followed by immediate takeoffs. On a subsequent approach, the airplane executed a very hard landing. This hard touchdown caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable. It then veered off the runway to the left and subsequently crashed into a covered concourse. The concourse had a roof that was approximately at the same height as the aircraft's windshield. All four crew members on board sustained fatal injuries. The crew was based at England AFB.
Investigation
The official investigation into the accident was thorough and included extensive interviews with individuals. The probable cause, as determined by the investigation, was pilot error. No other causes were cited in the official findings.