What happened
While operating in instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft was engaged in cruise flight. The crew had recently stopped cross-feeding fuel due to an imbalance between the tanks. Approximately two minutes following this action, the left engine suffered a complete loss of power. Shortly after the engine failure, the co-pilot noted a decrease in airspeed. Within approximately 15 seconds of that observation, the aircraft transitioned from controlled flight into an uncontrolled descent, eventually impacting the terrain. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Post-accident investigations of the left engine showed no indications of mechanical failures occurring prior to the impact that could explain the uncommanded shutdown. Although a SIGMET was active for the flight path regarding potential severe clear icing, the crew made no mention of encountering weather-related difficulties. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was flying at an altitude exceeding its single-engine service ceiling. The pilot-in-command possessed roughly 6,000 total flight hours, with 500 hours in this specific model, while the co-pilot had 600 total hours, including 300 hours in the same aircraft type. The investigation focused on the uncommanded loss of power in the left engine as the primary event preceding the loss of control.