What happened
A private flight originating from Pensacola Regional Airport in Florida ended in a fatal accident in an open field southeast of Marianna. The flight was destined for Batesville, Arkansas, and was operated as a private mission with two people on board the single-engine airplane.
Approximately 90 minutes after takeoff, while the aircraft was maintaining a cruising altitude of 28,000 feet, the pilot began a descent. During this phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced a total loss of control. The plane subsequently struck the ground in an open field, resulting in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were two fatalities resulting from the impact.
Findings
The investigation indicates that the accident occurred specifically when the pilot initiated a descent from cruising altitude, leading to the loss of control of the aircraft.