What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While en route from cyta to cyyg at FL230, approximately 90 minutes into the flight, the aircraft reported a power loss and made a rapid descent. ATC provided vectors to 3B1. The pilot reported the airport in sight and stated that he intended to fly a left downwind for runway 14.
Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft overfly the airport in a position that appeared to be a left downwind for runway 21. Both witnesses reported observing the propellers turning, and one witness reported hearing the engines running. The witnesses observed the aircraft maneuver at approximately 500 feet above the ground, and initiate a left turn, with an increasing bank angle. Witnesses further stated that the aircraft appeared to be descreasing its airspeed, until the aircraft abruptly pitched down and impacted the ground. There was no evidence of fire, pre or post-impact.
The aircraft, located 300 feet prior to the approach end of runway 21, was destroyed during impact. All major components were present at the site. Both engines appeared to be intact, with damage to the propellers indicating they were turning under low power at the time of impact. Neither propeller was feathered. Fuel tanks appeared to be hydraulically deformed, and evidence of brown vegetation discoleration was noted. First responders indicated that a strong fuel odor was present the previous day.
Engine inspection by Lycoming personnel, and propeller inspection by hartzell personnel did not find any abnormalities.
Toxicology testing is pending. The pilot did not have any restrictions on his medical certificate.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE EN ROUTE FROM CYTA TO CYYG AT FL230, APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED A POWER LOSS AND MADE A RAPID DESCENT. ATC PROVIDED VECTORS TO 3B1. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AND STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 14.
WITNESSES ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLY THE AIRPORT IN A POSITION THAT APPEARED TO BE A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 21. BOTH WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE PROPELLERS TURNING, AND ONE WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINES RUNNING. THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVER AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND INITIATE A LEFT TURN, WITH AN INCREASING BANK ANGLE. WITNESSES FURTHER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE DESCREASING ITS AIRSPEED, UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE, PRE OR POST-IMPACT.
THE AIRCRAFT, LOCATED 300 FEET PRIOR TO THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 21, WAS DESTROYED DURING IMPACT. ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE PRESENT AT THE SITE. BOTH ENGINES APPEARED TO BE INTACT, WITH DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLERS INDICATING THEY WERE TURNING UNDER LOW POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NEITHER PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED. FUEL TANKS APPEARED TO BE HYDRAULICALLY DEFORMED, AND EVIDENCE OF BROWN VEGETATION DISCOLERATION WAS NOTED. FIRST RESPONDERS INDICATED THAT A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT THE PREVIOUS DAY.
ENGINE INSPECTION BY LYCOMING PERSONNEL, AND PROPELLER INSPECTION BY HARTZELL PERSONNEL DID NOT FIND ANY ABNORMALITIES.
TOXICOLOGY TESTING IS PENDING. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.