What happened
A training mission originated from San Diego Airport with four pilots on board. During the flight, the crew performed maneuvers to simulate stall conditions, at which point both engines ceased to respond properly. Shortly after this loss of power, a fire developed in both engines. In response to the emergency, the crew attempted an unplanned landing in a desert region. The aircraft type (unspecified) completed a belly landing approximately 8.8 miles east of Borrego Springs. Although the aircraft was destroyed by the subsequent flames, all four crew members managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the primary cause was a dual engine failure during flight. This failure was attributed to inadequate maintenance and inspection procedures. Additional contributing factors included:
- Malfunction of the propeller system, specifically an inoperative hi stop hub connecting switch
- Improper operation of the powerplant
- Presence of excessive temperatures
- Insufficient supervision of the flight operations