What happened
During the cruise phase of flight at an altitude of 700 feet, the crew experienced significant technical difficulties involving the left engine. In response to the malfunction, the propeller was feathered; however, the aircraft was unable to sustain its flight level due to being over its maximum weight capacity. As a result, the plane lost altitude and struck trees before coming to rest in a snow-covered region.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. While there were no fatalities, all four occupants sustained injuries during the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary cause was the failure of the left engine, which was triggered by a broken connecting rod. Additionally, the fact that the aircraft was overloaded was determined to be a contributing factor that prevented the crew from maintaining altitude following the engine loss.