What happened
During a scheduled recurrent training session, a private pilot and a flight instructor were operating an aircraft. After departing and climbing to approximately 5,000 feet, the aircraft performed a series of maneuvers, including a 360-degree turn to the left and a 360-degree turn to the right. Following these turns, the aircraft maintained level flight for roughly two minutes while its groundspeed decreased to approximately 90 knots. This reduction in speed suggested the crew may have been performing maneuvers involving slow flight or stalls. Subsequently, the aircraft entered a steep bank and crashed into the ground in a nose-low position, resulting in two fatalities.
Post-accident inspections of the engines and propellers showed evidence that they were functioning at the time of the impact. Furthermore, a mechanical examination of the airframe and engines found no malfunctions that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally.
Findings
Investigators examined several potential contributing factors, including the health and physiological state of the crew. The flight instructor had a known history of obstructive sleep apnea, though it could not be determined if this condition was managed or if it played a role in the crash.
Toxicology results for both pilots showed low levels of ethanol; however, investigators noted that this was likely due to postmortem production rather than active impairment. Additionally, traces of THC and its metabolite were found in the recovered remains. Because the samples were from commingled remains, it was impossible to identify which pilot had used the substance. Consequently, the investigation could not confirm if marijuana impairment occurred or if it contributed to the loss of control.