What happened
Operating under visual flight rules, the aircraft was instructed by air traffic control to perform left 360-degree orbits over a plaza while approaching its destination. During this period, witnesses reported light rain and a low cloud ceiling of approximately 300 feet. Observers noted the aircraft flying with a nose-low attitude and a wing-low bank, with some reporting the engines sounded as if they were intermittently losing power.
Radar data indicates that while the pilot was performing the left turns, the altitude fluctuated between 1,500 and 800 feet. Between 15:02:10 and 15:02:27, the calibrated airspeed dropped from 160 knots to 100 knots. The aircraft's final recorded altitude was 200 feet. The aircraft subsequently struck trees and a concrete wall before crashing through corrugated metal covers over vehicle lifts. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft, a building, and several parked vehicles. There were 0 fatalities reported in the provided text.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage showed that the landing gear and flaps were retracted and symmetrical. No mechanical failures were found in the flight controls, engines, or propellers, though fire damage prevented the testing of certain engine accessories. Analysis of slash marks on metal panels at the crash site suggested an airspeed of 123 knots at the time of impact. This speed is significant because the calculated power-off stall speed for the aircraft at its weight with a 48-degree bank was 122 knots. The aircraft was flying at a speed nearly equal to its stall threshold during the descent.