What happened
Following takeoff, the pilot notified air traffic control of the need to return to the airport for an immediate landing. While maneuvering on a left downwind leg for runway 35R, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting that an engine had shut down. During the subsequent approach, witnesses and air traffic controllers observed the Mitsubishi MU2 overshoot the final approach for runway 35R. As the aircraft transitioned toward the base leg, the pilot failed to respond to instructions to divert to an alternative runway. Observers noted the aircraft's landing lights tilting toward the ground before the plane disappeared from view. A witness reported seeing the aircraft execute a sharp left bank and descend into the terrain at an angle of less than 45 degrees, nose first.
Flight data analysis indicated that the aircraft began a left bank of approximately 24 degrees during the downwind leg. As the aircraft turned toward final approach, the bank angle increased, and the angle of attack reached a stall angle of roughly 17 degrees. This was accompanied by a significant drop in airspeed of 40 to 70 knots and a vertical descent rate of 3,000 feet per minute just prior to the fatal impact.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the airframe showed the landing gear was retracted and the flaps were set to 20 degrees. This configuration deviated from the flight manual, which specifies that flaps should be at 5 degrees during the base leg and the gear should be extended.
Investigation of the propulsion system revealed that the left propeller was feathered at the time of impact, though the reason for the initial engine shutdown remained undetermined. The right engine showed significant internal damage, including separated vanes in the oil pump transfer tube and a seized oil-scavenge pump. The aircraft entered a stall during the approach following the engine failure and improper configuration of the flaps and landing gear.