What happened
At 14:36 hours, an aircraft departed from a controlled airport carrying the pilot and one passenger. During the initial climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 5,200 feet mean sea level. Radio communications between the flight crew and the control tower during this period showed no signs of distress or unusual activity. Radar tracking confirmed that the aircraft maintained its altitude of 5,200 feet for more than two minutes before beginning a rapid descent.
The aircraft subsequently descended at an excessive rate, resulting in a collision with the ocean surface roughly one mile from the coast. The accident resulted in two fatalities.
Findings
Post-accident investigations involved the recovery and inspection of the engines and propellers. While the engine examination showed no evidence of prior mechanical issues, the propellers exhibited significant damage, including deep gouges on the leading edges, 'S' shaped twists, and one broken blade. A review of the aircraft's maintenance logs and official records indicated no pre-existing deficiencies or mechanical discrepancies. Ultimately, the investigation did not identify a specific cause for the sudden loss of altitude or the subsequent impact with the water.