FTW83FA271

During arrival on a dark night, the acft collided with level ground aprx 1 mi northeast of the arpt. It touched down on a west northwesterly heading in aprx a 45 deg, left bank, slightly nose down, attitude. An exam of the wreckage was made, but no evidence of a preimpact failure or malfunction of the acft was found. According to local authorities, the plt was holding an oxygen mask in his left hand when the wreckage was located. The oxygen sys was found in the 'on' position. The oxygen plug in cover for the plt was off & broken. According to persons who flew with the plt on a regular basis, the oxygen masks were normally carried in a cardboard box in the baggage area. They reported that even though the oxygen sys was serviced, the plt had never used it & never flew at altitudes where oxygen was required. The pathologist, who performed the autopsy, believed the plt suffered a coronary, crippling condition. However, he reported the cause of death was blunt force trauma which was suffered in the fatal crash.