What happened
A flight was being conducted to provide second-in-command (SIC) training for a commercial pilot. The training program, as outlined in the manual, was intended to cover four hours of both standard and emergency maneuvers, including stalls in various takeoff and landing configurations and specific banked turns.
During the flight, witnesses observed the twin-engine aircraft performing what appeared to be aerobatic maneuvers. One observer noted the aircraft was spiraling toward the ground with increasing engine noise. Another witness reported seeing the plane descending nose-first in a counterclockwise spin. Following the aircraft's descent into a treeline, a loud impact and subsequent explosion were heard, followed by visible black smoke.
Radar information indicated the aircraft was at 8,400 feet MSL during the final two minutes and 26 seconds of the flight, with ground speeds ranging from 59 to 75 knots. The final radar data showed the plane executing a 180-degree turn before signal loss. No distress signals or mayday calls were transmitted by the crew. The aircraft struck the ground in a nearly wings-level attitude and was destroyed by a post-crash fire. It remains undetermined which pilot was in control of the aircraft at the time of the impact.
Findings
An examination of the aircraft and its engines following the accident revealed no mechanical anomalies.