Accident Overview
At 2030, the pilot of an airplane reported leaving 6,000 feet and stated that the airport was in sight. The controller cleared the flight for the approach. The pilot then requested to cancel the IFR clearance and switch to the traffic advisory frequency, which the controller approved. No further communications from the flight were recorded.
Radar and Impact
Radar data showed the airplane southeast of the airport, maintaining a westerly heading south of the airport. At 2035, the airplane crossed a river and initiated a sharp left turn away from the airport. After completing approximately 90 degrees of turn, it abruptly disappeared from radar, with the last target on the west side of the river near the impact location.
Wreckage and Engine Examination
The wreckage was highly fragmented and recovered from the river after several weeks of submersion. Examination of the engines revealed that the left engine was not rotating or operating at impact, and its propeller was in the feathered position. The right engine showed damage consistent with rotation and operation at impact. No pre-existing conditions were found on either engine or in the airframe systems that would have interfered with normal operation or explained the left engine's shutdown.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following a shutdown of the left engine during a night visual approach. A contributing factor was the dark night.