What happened
A training mission involving a Sherpa departed from Fort Rucker-Cairns AAF with the intention of testing the aircraft in a specific configuration. The flight was manned by three crew members. Approximately two hours and 45 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 5,336 feet under favorable weather conditions, the aircraft experienced significant instability. The plane underwent a series of rolls, first tilting 12 degrees to the right and subsequently reaching a 35-degree angle to the left.
During this period of instability, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. It eventually impacted an open field situated roughly 4 miles north of Colquitt, where it caught fire upon impact. The accident resulted in three fatalities. At the moment control was lost, the aircraft was traveling at a speed of 89 knots.
Findings
The mission parameters originally required the crew to simulate an engine failure at 10,000 feet. However, data indicates that the aircraft's airspeed was decreasing at a rate of approximately one knot per second prior to the onset of instability. Despite these issues, investigations confirmed that the total weight and the center of gravity for the aircraft were within established operational limits. The specific reason why the stall occurred at 89 knots has not been definitively identified.