Accident Sequence
During a test flight, the pilot was performing a VMC (minimum control speed) test and maximum performance single-engine climbs. Witness descriptions of the aircraft's movements at the beginning of the accident sequence indicate that the VMC test was in progress immediately before the accident occurred. The pilot allowed the aircraft to stall at an altitude that was too low to permit recovery before ground impact occurred. The subsequent collision with terrain resulted in the deaths of both occupants.
Official Findings
The investigation identified two occurrences: first, a loss of control during maneuvering in flight, and second, an in-flight collision with terrain during an uncontrolled descent. The probable cause for the loss of control was determined to be:
- The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, leading to an inadvertent stall/spin.
The collision with terrain was the outcome of the uncontrolled descent following the loss of control.