What happened
Following the conclusion of routine maintenance and a standard ground run-up procedure, the aircraft departed from the airfield to perform a local flight test. During the initial stages of the flight, observers noted the aircraft maintaining a nose-high pitch before performing a left-hand turn. Shortly thereafter, the nose of the plane descended toward the earth. The aircraft struck hilly terrain roughly 1.5 miles from the runway's departure end, which subsequently led to a fire consuming the wreckage.
Findings
An intensive inspection of the engines, propellers, and the airframe was conducted following the crash. This investigation determined that there were no mechanical defects or irregularities found in the components that could have been a factor in the accident.